A Thing of Beauty

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." -- John 8:12

Our office has become beautiful. In just a weeks' time a woman named Joanne has turned a neutral, fairly boring canvas into a stunning and inviting workspace. It has been fun to watch the process of transformation and join in with her as her ideas and dreams came to fruition.

Today, as things were winding down she said, "Okay Jessica, let's look at your space." I'll admit, I was dying to have her give some direction and thought to the placement of pieces she had suggested that I add in and around my new office. One of the paintings that was originally slated to be in our open area needed a home and she asked if I would like to have it. I was thrilled and as we hung it, she pointed out that the artist had inscribed the reference to the verse above near his signature. Joanne told me that when she discovered this reference, she immediately looked it up and it became her "theme" verse for the project. I thought it very appropriate.

One, the end purpose of the work we do here is that students would understand that Jesus is indeed the light of the world and that they might have life. Life is a beautiful thing. Two, Joanne loves beauty. It drives her. I have been so encouraged and refreshed as my associates and I have had the privilege of working alongside her this week. Not only did she care about the project, she cared about our stories. Both were things of beauty to her.

There is something about beauty that moves me. Maybe you feel the same. As I thought about it in light of this project and my conversations with Joanne, I realized why. The world can be an astoundingly ugly place at times. In the midst of the struggles of life, relationships, and circumstances it is not difficult to despair in the darkness. But light... What does light do? It dispels darkness and allows us to see what is real about life.

To think that Jesus says that HE is the light of the world is a tremendous claim. In fact, if you go on to read beyond that one verse in John 8, you'll see that the Pharisees were quite offended by this. Jesus cared deeply that people would not continue stumbling in the darkness. He wanted them to see the light so they could experience life.

How I long to experience life on Jesus' terms, but I must choose to walk in the light. Often I avoid the life that He so freely offers because I desire to do it my way. What's sad about this is that I miss what is beautiful... Him. He is the light of the world. He lived a sinless life, died a grievous death and rose victoriously that we would experience life and cease stumbling in the darkness. Now that is a thing of beauty.

The Count of Monte Cristo

If you have yet to seize the opportunity to read this classic, I would highly encourage it! I just finished the 1,078-page tale last week and loved it (no abridged version for me). Actually, I already loved the book around page 150 and knew I'd desire to re-read it in the future. I think Dumas is a brilliant story-teller and the themes of justice and mercy were poignant. Let me also add here that the film version falls desperately short in communicating the actual story. I used to like it, in fact, I own it. Upon finishing the book I went back and watched the movie and I'm now thinking of selling it on Amazon... Let me know if you'd be interested in taking it off my hands.

Life After Colorado... Two Years Later

It's official! Today I celebrate two years in Boston and I can hardly believe it. I almost forgot the "anniversary" in the midst of this hectic week, but remembered as I was sorting through documents in my effort to switch offices this afternoon. Two years ago, my Mom, Dad and new teammates were unloading the moving truck into my first apartment out here. It was a crazy day and I remember Judy & Corri (who had just moved here with their families from our old region as well) dropping by in the early afternoon with some flowers and stuff for my place. We all were a little wide-eyed as we talked through the change we all had chosen. It was so strange to think that I'd actually done it... Moved clear across the country, taking on a new role, joining this new team that melded the thoughts, ideas and ministry philosophies of two regions together and leaving everything I knew behind.

It has been quite the adventure and I am thankful that God gave me the opportunity to do it. It is hard to imagine what life would be like had I stayed in Colorado. One thing is for certain, this choice has been one of the utmost steps of faith I've taken in my short life and it was a great decision. God has grown me so much through this change. At times I am surprised by how clearly His hand has led me and struck by the grace His has bestowed on me in the challenging times. And, it has been incredible to see His plan for our region unfold as He has caused growth and change in the lives of our staff and students.

Author Janet Hagberg writes, "We do not grow so much by effort or following a formula as we do by being open to the grace of God." When a friend shared this quote with me a few years back I remember the impact it had on my life. I am, by nature, a very formula-driven person. I want things to fit neatly together and to make sense. And, in my relationship with God, I want to feel like I'm measuring up and if I do the right things, then I can experience His grace in my life. If I've learned nothing else in the past two years, I have learned this: it's true, I've grown so much more by simply being open to God's grace in my life than by working hard to "earn" His acceptance. I don't have it all figured out and I've learned that He doesn't expect that from me. He simply wants my heart. In this new city where the rules were all very unfamiliar at one point, I saw that I needed to experience His grace. And, I've grown up in the process of embracing this reality. Its been really, really good.

Things I love about life in Boston:

1. Working in the city in a position where I can grow, with people I like and for a purpose far greater than myself.
2. The Charles River.
3. Friends I've made along the way (some who are still here, others who have already moved away [miss you Bryant's, Anderson's & Almaz!]).
4. Finale for dessert. Stephanies on Newbury for the occasional brunch. Solas/Elephant Castle/The Kinsale for good pub food. Sam LaGrassa's for the reuben. Sebastians/Cosi for a good salad. Naked Fish for seafood. Mariposa Bakery in Central Square for the best mocha I've yet to find in Boston. The list goes on and on! Food is a good thing...
5. My church! CityLife is gospel-centric and the people are authentic. I feel blessed to have "landed" there.
6. My apartment. If you've been there, you know why. I love it...
7. The city and the people in it. Boston is so diverse. I really appreciate seeing and interacting with people who are different than me.
8. The Public Garden in the spring and summer. Fenway anytime. The Boston Public Library in Copley... Oh, I have a book that's overdue... whoops!

I still listen to my favorite Colorado radio station online, miss my family and friends and long to see a sunset over the Rockies throughout the week, but I love my Boston life. Who knows how long I'll be here... When people ask I simply say, "Until the Lord tells me otherwise." In the meantime I hope to thrive and grow by being transformed by the gospel and loving God and others. Here's to the first two years of growth and change and the hope for a tremendous "Year No. Three." Cheers.

Where has the Time Gone?

Tomorrow marks week three in my return to Boston and life has been more busy and complicated than I would have thought. Futato! (That is for my Florida friends) Blogging has not been on the top of the priority list. To be honest, I haven't had much to say in the past three weeks for a number of reasons. Don't worry, life is good. God is good. If anything, I feel strongly that God used my time in Florida to prepare me for the things I would face upon my return to Boston. He is truly generous and gracious.

My friends Kyle and Emily sent me some photos from our time down south today and it reminded me of my desire to unpack some of what I learned there here on the ol' blog. One of the many things that I've continued to process is the reality of, if you will, God's bigness. I have enjoyed looking at the Bible as ONE story. The story of God's glory and our redemption from Genesis to Revelation. I have been encouraged as I have understood how much God truly loves people and in spite of His highness, He has chosen to come down to our level through the person of Christ, that we would know Him personally and have a relationship with Him. It is amazing to me that God would choose to reveal Himself to us in ways we can understand because He wants to have a relationship.

Now, these aren't new ideas or thoughts, but what has become more beautiful to me about these truths is seeing how it really matters and plays out in my life. In light of understanding who God is in light of His story, how much more do I desire to love Him, serve Him, trust Him and obey Him! After all, He is the only one who is worthy of my worship and of my life. Yet, I have many idols. I see this clearly in my life. It is frustrating at times to recognize that I fail to truly walk with God because I choose other things over Him. I have other priorities, I obey other masters and honestly, I am self-centered.

While away, I had many great conversations, but one that I'm still mulling over today. One night I was talking with a friend whom I have come to respect greatly about God's call to those who love Him in paraphrase: if you love Me, keep my commandments. He and I talked about how simple it seems to be... If I love God, I will keep/obey His commandments. Yet, living in light of this by choosing to obey is often a different story. What's interesting is that obeying God stems from a life that loves God. If you love Me... Obey...

One of the things he expressed really struck me and here's a little snipet of what I took away from it. In the church today we are very focused on the truth that Christ loves us. In fact, we talk about grace and mercy frequently. These things are true of the gospel. What is often left out however, is the reality that, coupled with grace, God calls believers to a higher standard. If we have indeed chosen Christ - we have a relationship with Him - we have embraced grace and mercy through His life, death and resurrection - we are called to be disciples. What does this look like?

Well, a lot of things actually. In the New Testament we see that Jesus promises suffering to those who follow Him. We are called to be like Christ, to grow, to willingly submit to Him and to one another. Now, don't get me wrong.... I'm not saying that we need to look for things like suffering, because honestly, God brings these things into our lives for the purpose of sanctification. God desires that we would be like Christ and it's not an easy process. BUT, it is a worthy process.

Moreso, as he and I continued to talk, it was neat to hear his perspective on desiring to love God and obey His commands. Isn't this what the Christian life is all about? God has done, continues to do, really, incredible things on our behalf. He is the Almighty. He is Sovereign. He has created all that we see and know. He sought a way to redeem us when we utterly turned away from Him so that we would not be utterly forsaken. He is life. He is King.

I reflect on these things and I cannot help but desire to love Him. He is so worthy of my love and devotion and not because of what He has done so much as because of who He is. His actions demonstrate the truth of who He is at the core. Obedience stems from this place of love for Him. Why would I want to disobey God when He has the best way? I mean, to disobey means that I think my way is better. I know more. I have the plan. But the truth is, I am broken because of my sin and realistically, I am finite. I don't know all. I am not all powerful. So, why would I desire anything else?

That's a great question. But, I do. This is the struggle of the Christian life. Why do I do what I do given that Christ has given me everything? Why? I'm torn between my flesh and the Spirit that dwells in me. Why does Paul tell us in Romans 6, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

I long to live this new life. I don't want a watered down faith that doesn't give me the full picture. I am forgiven. Christ did the work. He lived a perfect life, died a horrible death on that cross taking the sin of the world upon Himself and He rose again to bring new life. I need to live in light of this sacrifice. Loving God and obeying His commands. It still sounds simple and I know it's not.

Thinking it over these past weeks has caused me to consider once again the power of the Spirit-filled life. I am unable to do these things on my own and it's why Jesus sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, so that we would be able to live in light of our freedom and obey God. That we would choose rightly. Wisely. And, that in loving God, we would keep His commandments. I find that I'm encouraged to know that God desires for me to keep His commands and that He provides a way for me to do it. It's not a perfect process for me in life. I still sin. I fail. Yet, as I am being sanctified, I have hope. One day, I will be glorified. The sufferings of this present time will cease and I will meet Jesus face to face.

It's amazing. What a faith! What a hope!

I'm sure there is more to share and I'll try to do it sometime soon.