Saturday, June 12, 2010

Anticipation

There are times in life when everything happens at once, when you're overwhelmed and can't think much beyond each single current moment. There are times in life when almost nothing happens, when you can take a deep breath. And then there are special times when you know something is about to happen, something big or exciting or fun. Anticipation. 

With the quick approach of summer vacation; a face-to-face meeting of an overseas friend; the blooming of the vegetable garden, grapes, and the apple tree, it seems that I'm living in a state of anticipation in every aspect of my life. It's such a neat feeling that leaves me not wishing life away but eager to know what lies ahead. I'm excited, preparing so that I'm ready, sharing my excitement with others, talking about what lies ahead in my life. I'm keeping the weeds down in the garden, watching for bugs on my plants, making packing lists, purchasing supplies...

And lately, I can't help but think that this is the state we're supposed to be living our lives in all the time. The writers of the Bible wrote about living in a state of readiness for Jesus' return to earth. Two thousand years ago, people where anticipating His return. They were excited, ready, talking about it. Have we lost our anticipation for Jesus? Have we replaced it with our anticipation with much less significant things?

Summer is good. It's very good. How much greater is heaven going to be? Now that's anticipation.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Open Windows

Although it's felt like summer for quite some time around here, I've hesitated to open up all of the windows in the house. I've opened a few - the front porch, the kitchen, the bedroom sky lights, but I have not brought myself to cranking them all wide open. Why, you ask? Well, frankly, the only reason why I wouldn't open up all my windows is that opening them, compels me to clean them...the dirty, webby sills at least. That place that's been all shut up for six months or so and inevitably has become home to some ferocious creature that is only doing a mediocre job at controlling the population of gnats sneaking through the screens anyway. Stupid spiders. 

Well, tonight, desperate to cool my nearly hundred year old second floor bedrooms to a tolerable sleeping temperature, I finally decided enough was enough. Those spiders could not keep my desires for fresh air and peaceful sleep at bay any longer. I opened, I sucked, I wiped, I breathed deep. Why...sigh...didn't I...sigh...do that sooner...sigh...

There is just something wonderful about the feeling of having the windows wide, isn't there? It's freeing. To both the six-months-sealed funk that grows into a house throughout the winter months and to my out-door craving spirit who would probably sleep outside all summer if not for the aforementioned spiders. And bats. And...well, you get the idea. I still love the outdoors.

It just leaves me praising God for the gift of air. And praying that it doesn't rain at least until I wake up in the morning.