Random Writings - Completed!

Recently, I posted a narrative that I had written several years back and never finished.  I had stopped mid-sentence - just before quoting the illustrious Diane DeFranco-Kling. I invited my readers to come up with an ending and one of my friends did!  Emily knew me from our days as part of GFA's School of Discipleship and composed this ending.  Thankfully, she said I could share it with you.  Here's the original post.


Staring at the eight inch gap between my fingers and my toes, I was reminded of Diane's words in Mime and Stage Movement. . .

"In the act of miming, the goal is to fill in the empty spaces and imagine what you and your audience can't see. . .and make it real for them."

I thought it was kinda random that I was reminded of that particular piece of miming advice at that particular moment. Perhaps my subconscious was trying to imagine that the space between my fingers and the tips of my shoes wasn't there. But, glancing at my watch and at the gathering clouds, I saw that I didn't have much time to think about it. So, I got back up and huffed back to the apartment.

Still a little grumpy that my "count-your-blessings" exercise (along with my morning jog) had met with less than success, I sat down with my Bible for morning devotions, fully intending to complain to Jesus at least a little.

The reading for the day was from Hebrews 11. As I was half-heartedly reading through the chapter (still thinking about Kansas), I came to verses 13-15: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. . .If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

I sat there for a few moments, letting the verses echo through my mind. "If they had been thinking of the country they had left...longing for a better country....God is not ashamed to be called their God...." Obviously, God had been reading my thoughts.

I can take a hint.

So, I'll keep running here in Texas. Fixing my eyes on Jesus.

Reaching out and touching what I can't see--eternity.

Imagining when the space between me and heaven won't be there anymore.

Longing for a better country--one even better than Kansas.

Random Writings

I was searching through old files today and found this narrative I had started writing in my early days in TX.  If you're looking for a short, entertaining blog post - skip this one!   I don't mind!  It's long and wordy and a narrative.  It's true, but long and boring and not really profitable.

The funny thing?  At the end of this, I start to quote Diane DeFranco-Kling and then never finish writing the narrative.  And I have no idea what quote of Diane's I might have been thinking about.  No idea.  The only clue I have is that the file is titled "Pain and Promise."  Hmm... ideas?

There was no light yet when I awoke at five this morning.  Noises from the kitchen registered on my ears even before I shoved my feet into my silky slippers.  I emerged from my room to find Rach getting ice for her 7-Up.  "I've been throwing up all night," she moaned as she returned to the cold tile floor of the bathroom.

Ter padded out of her room and fixed hot Indian tea in the wee morning hours.  We sat in silence, sipping our tea from dainty, yard-sale tea cups.  The moments fled too quickly and Ter left to shower.

Remembering the weather report of showers for today, I opened the door of the apartment.  The air was warm and moist with a hint of a breeze.  A thought lingered in my mind... "Why not?" I finally asked myself.

When I opened the door again, it was with my long-forgotten, worn-out running shoes on my feet.  I carefully closed the door behind me and stepped into a light jog down the open corridor and onto the concrete driveway.

I jogged the perimeter of the apartment complex, weaving between cars and parking lots, smiling at the early morning dog-walkers, and thinking about Kansas.  In Kansas, thought I, I would be running into the sunrise instead of staring at the smog.  In Kansas, I would be running on a dirt road instead of killing my knees on this concrete creation.  In Kansas, I would be watching the deer and the blue herons instead of dodging early-morning commuters.  In Kansas, I thought...

My forehead crinkled in sudden thought.  In Kansas, I woud not be enjoying a 64 degree run in t-shirt and shorts at the end of December.  In Kansas, the dogs would be nipping at my heels instead of yapping from the end of their owner's leash.  In Kansas, I thought as my out-of-shape lungs started to protest, my route would never circle around back to my house in less than a four mile run.

I stretched out on the grass beside my apartment building and eased my fingertips towards the tips of my running shoes.  Staring at the eight inch gap between my fingers and my toes, I was reminded of Diane's words in Mime and Stage Movement

...end of story.  How would you end it? :)

[Edit 9/30/10: One of my friends wrote an ending.  Read it here.]

GPR submissions (never submitted)

I sit back in my chair and stare at my computer screen. I can't think. I can't work. I can't concentrate. Thoughts rush to and fro...arguing their way through my brain-

sin
pride
worthiness
calling
burden
willingness

Why must He pursue me so?

(GPR)

GPR submissions (never submitted)

"Cool! Check out this freeware!"

run spirituallife.exe
Install complete. Run automatically in taskbar? Yes.
Reboot.

"Oh, man! Look at that -- this new program's hogging my resources!"