Awaken Me

Money. Jobs. Approval. Fame. Respect. Validation. Pleasure. Looks. Weight. Kids. Family. Husband. Food. Parties. Drinking. Drugs.

Meetings. Traffic. Birthdays. Holidays. Picnics. Promotions. Vacations. Nap time. TV. Internet. Games.

Good times. Quality time.  Bucket List.  American Dream. Retirement. Security.

Wake Up. Make Breakfast.  Get Dress.  Clean House.  Do Dishes. Do Laundry. Make Lunch. Do Dishes. Do Laundry. Clean House. Watch TV.  Make Dinner.  Do Dishes.  Do Laundry.  Watch TV.  Sleep.  Wake Up...


These are the things of life, but these things are not life.  Down deep, I know that this is not the purpose of life.  The endless cycle of days or the pursuit of the next mountain to climb is so meaningless.  The "What's Next?" mentality is not working anymore.  When I was 6 and still had a lifetime of "what next" events (college, job, marriage, kids, etc) it sounded right, but after knocking a few of these things off my list, I'm left with an aching feeling that I rushed through my list a little quickly.  Not that the timeline matters, but that I missed important connections along the way.  I had my "eye on the prize", but was not awake in my everyday minutes.  To get that time back...

It's gone.

But this moment, right now, is not.  It's here and I'm in it.  I'm in it and I'm connecting, relating, and reaching...to you.

I don't want life to just happen to me, I want to be in it and living with intent.  I was made with a purpose and God has a plan for me.  He has a plan for you.  He has a plan for everyone.  We are not a mistake.  We are not an accident.  Our lives are not a string of unrelated and random events.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed. ~Psalm 139:13-16

We were made to glorify Him.  My whole life I always thought - what does that even mean?  Glorify - such a stuffy word.  One of those lofty and high words that the meaning always becomes too elusive when you really try to nail it down.

All of creation is screaming the glory of God.  The breathtaking sunset.  The amazing complexities of DNA.  The interconnectedness of the earth's systems.  The presence of love in this world.  Love.  And us - men and women - God can be glorified in us.  Yes, there is a Creator, a Savior, there is Love in this world.  We can express it too - amazing strength in weakness, compassion's roots growing in our damaged hearts, the nastiest parts of our lives redeemed, and beauty in this life of decay.

Shine Your light so all can see it
Lift it up, 'cause the whole world needs it
Love has come, what joy to hear it
He has overcome