Immeasurably More

There are times when you and Life are walking along, like good friends, and you think you know where you are going.  You think that you and Life have agreed on a direction; that there is a plan; that you understand each other. And then Life decides that despite all the trees you have already visited, you really must see this new one.  This tree is different from all the other trees and if you don't see it, you simply won't be the person you might be if you DO see it. And so Life changes direction. Except you don't notice.  Because you talked about it.  And there was this plan . And then you trip over Life.  And Life LOOKS very indignant because you weren't paying attention and kneed her in the ribs.  And you ARE very indignant because this is a stupid tree that you had no interest in ever seeing and you would chop it down and burn it if you could. Stupid tree.  Stupid Life.  Stupid little bits of gravel stuck in your palms. B...

Dear Reader, Two years after moving to England, I had almost given up hope of finding a church where I would feel at home.  I had visited six churches, two of which I attended regularly for several months, but none of them gave me a feeling of having found "my people".  I was prepared to give up the search, but on a sunny Sunday morning, I made a deal with myself.  I didn't want to go to church, but I did want to have a long walk by the river.  In this case, I could walk along the river to church and even if nothing came of the church visit, I would still have gotten what I really wanted from the morning.  Many sunny (and rainy!) walks later, I was a member and active participant in that little church.  It is anecdotal, to be sure, but perhaps evidence all the same that God calls to us through the things we find beautiful and take pleasure in. Recently, I was asked if I had visited any of the local churches here in my Maine hometown.  I answered t...