Life, one cup at a time!

It has been more than a few days since last I put more than simple words here and the time to reflect has been good.

New friends have been made, information learned and even some of it applied.

This life I am living is mine. It is not an audition for my "real" life. There is no practice run. This is not simply training for a "free trial". It is my life.

Reflecting back on some of the years has been good and also bad at times. It is hard to walk forward while looking backwards. Believe me...I have tried.

Simple times in coffee shop and wandering the fall streets of Kansas City, working on art and writing, and studying strangers has let me become re- acquainted with the amazing person I used to be, before the cares of life, the weight of years and drudgery of labor began forcing my soul into a thin place that I called reality. I am still me! Under neath it all is still the boy wanderer, adventurer and silly goof that never ceased to amaze. In finding myself once again as a man, I have connected to that kid inside and figured out, it is ok to have fun!

When did I become so stern, so serious, so absorbed in the distant future that I stopped living now the way I once did? I ceased being present. I stopped sitting at stoplights until the moon rose over light pole, listening to August and Everything After, just because I could. I stopped flying kites on afternoons and walking chickens. I stopped climbing buildings, singing at the moon, dancing in the rain and playing piano in empty ballrooms! When is the last time I dive rolled at a stranger and ran off with random idiots to Chicago? It's time to get back to the nonsense that made me smile on an endless basis. Free to be me, not an idea or imitation of myself!

I am listening to my thoughts. Living out my desires. Throwing the weight of others eyes away and simple running through the leaves, scuffing my feet as I go and spinning around in art galleries when I want to! This is my life, I chose to live it.

And it's going to kick so much ass!

Again!

Jake, one amazing guy

Fall Day and Sketch

Another cool and crisp Fall day. The world seems full of promise. Life does not come with a contract. It is up to us to see that our choices each day bring good things into action.

I am not sure how I feel at the moment. Shades of smiles seem to flit on my face and I wonder what the future holds?

Tonight will be full of friends and fun. A hopeful strain of optimism in in the air. Yesterday's musings are over and something new will be upon me before I know it.

How will I number these days? It seems as if time is speeding up, moving faster each hour. I hope for truth and peace.

Care furrows my brown, even as my mouth breaks into laughter. Somehow I will lay these burdens down and move forward.

Where I stand...

Thinking and praying for John Raux

Moving Mountains : by John Raux

http://johnraux.com/

Peace

I don't have much to say tonight. The day was great. Had some awesome time driving around, listening to worship music, talking to my myself and God. Met some cool new people at the coffee shop too. Writers, artists, ballet dancers, homeless kids...all of 'em.

A friend sent me that message below from Gateway this morning and I reflected on it all day long. My church (www.jacobswellchurch.org) is full of Gods love and accepting of everyone that comes into our community. We are called to minister as a people to the fringe, to making the outsider into the insider. The gospel is for the whole world, not just a select few.

I know that certainly happened in my case. I was the worst, and they loved me, told me to come as I am, and let Jesus do the changing and cleaning. I was never given a list of thou shalt or shalt not, but was encouraged to pray, read the Bible, seek Gods face in my decisions. It is amazing how God works like that.

There is a peace in my life tonight, a calm and rested feeling that comes from being in Gods will, as scary as it may be right now. I know I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

I reflected on this prayer today as I sat outside. I picked it up from a friend who is at a monastary right now.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Peace to you all.