Dust and I got along so well because were both victims of the person working on the project. I was only the assistant to the person making the dust. My primary job was holding the dumb end of the tape measure, conscripted into service against my will. The dust was like a peaceful tenant forcefully evicted from its' home. Maybe I was more than a victim, because it was also my job to take the broom and dispose of the dust.

Despite my limited title and responsibilities some of the lingo stuck with me and I can still tell the difference between a cat's paw, flat bar, hammer, and crow bar and I still remember if all else fails use a bigger hammer or get the chain saw.

Recently dust and I met at a friend's construction project. I forgot the joy of pulling nails and listening to the radio. There is a sense of satisfaction from having my hands busy while still maintaining the capacity  to think about something other than the task before me.

While searching for a particular bible passage about David the three suggested search terms made me briefly consider how well David's life could be summed up in just these three stories. Life, Lust, and Love. You decide which is which.

"... Of a child-like faith
And of my honest praise
And of my unashamed love
Of a holy life
And of my sacrifice
And of my unashamed love."

-Unashamed Love by Ten Shekel Shirt

You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
Psalm 139 NIV

]]> http://www.insidethe.com/blog/2011/12/afar/feed/ 0 http://www.insidethe.com/blog/2011/11/through-that-gate-of-glass/ http://www.insidethe.com/blog/2011/11/through-that-gate-of-glass/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:12:48 +0000 Jared http://www.insidethe.com/blog/?p=1146

I know a garden with three strange gates
Of silver, of gold, and glass.
At every gate, in a deep, soft voice,
A sentinel murmurs, "Pass."

At night I passed through the silver gate,
An ivory moon rode high;
I heard the song of the silver stars
That swung in the silver sky.

I walked at dawn through the gate of gold,
And came to a golden sea.
Seven mermaids rose from the golden waves
And fluttered white hands to me.

At last I came to the other gate.
The sentinel murmured, "Pass!"
I never will tell what lovely things
I saw through that gate of glass.
-'The Last Gate' by Stella Mead

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. -Genesis 2:15 NKJV

A wave moving across the vast ocean expanse is lost in the horizon. Hardly distinguished from the crest before or the one yet to come into view. The will of the wind conforms each wave's size and frequency. The wave doesn't start to become unique until it reaches a boundary.

The shore edge is a boundary that is the breaking point of all waves. Standing from shore you see the wave crest and erupt into a white frothy foam. Perhaps it curls into a graceful tunnel as it goes storming out of existence. The side you see from shore is confrontational and magnificent, the source of many inspired writings and thoughts.

Opposite the magnificence and fury is a side that few see or experience. The back of the wave is as graceful as the front is unwieldy. It appears to effortlessly roll over and into the shore as to rest for another attempt at overcoming the boundary. If the wind is fickle and changes direction against the wave it created the frothy spray is whisked up into the air as an ethereal veil to cover the wave's graceful end.

People are much the same when the precipice of a unavoidable boundary is reached.  The face and emotion that everyone can see doesn't always correspond to the emotion or rational behind it. While the world may see a game face approaching the boundary the true face behind it may be completely opposite.

Who can see both of your faces?

"Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me."
Psalm 42:7 NIV

Googling "Today is the Day" produces an interesting cross section of results from popular culture. Seems the algorithmic genius of Google can't decide so it throws a smattering of results.

What does it mean to you?

"What does it mean to me?" you ask? I'm so glad you did. Honestly, not that I have a lot to say on the matter but I'd be amiss not to testify that, to me, it means:

The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
-Psalm 118:24

The waves rolled Me around the surf.
They excited myself, terribly so.
I let them take me for a ride.

The breaking waves kept pushing Me back.
Kicking and paddling propelled Myself across the breakers to wait for a wave.
All so I could enjoy the ride!

Me, Myself, and I sat on the beach with the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

It was refreshing to be in such good company at the beach.

Disciples drifting on the waves
They call to Jesus the one who saves
There's Jesus walking on the sea
Disciples said, "That's where I want to be"
And if you step out of the boat you just might float
Take a Chance by Lost and Found

Lost and Found has been a favorite band for.. .. umm.. more than half my life. Songs from "This" and "Sikkibahm" have been staples on my mix lists for years and some of my favorite times growing up were centered around Lost and Found concerts. The time finally came to update my play lists, what better to add than "Something"!

Heard "Take a Chance" for the first time while headed to the beach for a weekend surfing trip. What a great song and I apologize for taking it out of context.

The grave marker belongs to a man and a life unknown to me. A mystery further shrouded by weeds and dead leaves. Hidden but not forgotten, the flag placed there adds meaning for the flag means something important to me.

Does the flag mean the same thing to me as it did to the life of the person commemorated by the fading marker? An impossible question to answer.

Should a flag fly over my grave would people see it and superpose their understanding of the flag over my own? Or will they superimpose, adding to the meaning, instead of replacing the true meaning?

What did I just do upon viewing the marker and flag that stood before me?

Happy Independence Day America.