roller coaster

August 1st, 2011Blog, Slider1 comment

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotion and activity for me. It all started a couple of weeks ago when I went under the knife to correct a deviated septum. The surgery was definitely necessary but it certainly knocked me out (both figuratively and literally) for a couple of days. The day after I had the splints removed, I flew out to New Jersey and was blessed to have the opportunity to administer my first wedding for a great friend of mine. The wedding was a beautiful picture of the Gospel and God’s grace. On an off day between the rehersal and the wedding, I had an opportunity to return to the town where I grew up, South River. Simply driving through the city was surreal because I hadn’t been back there for any significant time in about 10 years. After visiting a bunch of significant landmarks and the places that I had lived as a child, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my dad. This was significant for me because I hadn’t seen him in person in the same number of years that I had since been back to my town. It was a sweet, yet difficult, encounter that I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to have. Later, in the same day, I took a ride over the bridge into Sayerville to visit the cemetery where my dear friend Mike Daly was laid to rest in 2008. He was pretty adamant in his desire for me not to see him in his weaker, sick state during his wrestle with cancer so I did my best to honor that. It was the first time that I have been able to visit his grave. After about a 6 hour stop back in Franklin, TN, I flew to Texas to speak for a week at a camp for an amazing ministry called House of Faith. There were a ton of amazing and challenging things that transpired during my few days there, and I left extremely encouraged. Once landing back in Franklin, I was blessed with the opportunity to share my heart in my last sermon at Strong Tower Bible Church, the place that I’ve been for the last 10 years. All of these activities and events happened, mind you, in the midst of planning and preparing to move across the country in only a matter of weeks!

I think it goes without saying that the emotional highs and lows that were experienced during this trip really took a toll on me. Though all of these encounters and experiences were both productive and necessary, my ability to find rest and peace in my connection with the Spirit of God was truly tested. In the times when I felt so emotionally drained and sad, I had to audibly cry out to the Lord to hold me up and be my rock. In the times when it seemed there wasn’t room for more joy, I had to be mindful to remember his desire for me seek joy continually. I had to proactively seek out the Lord and trust that he had me in His hands, even in the times that it didn’t feel like it. The beautiful, and yet challenging, thing is that this is exactly where the Lord desires for our hearts to be always.

I’m so thankful for an amazing wife that consistently provides encouragement and love in the midst of trials and challenges. I’m so thankful for friends that care deeply for my physical and spiritual well being. Most importantly, I am so thankful that the God of the universe, that created all things, is simply mindful of me. This roller coaster ride is full of nerve wracking, faith-inducing excitement… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.