gestures of gratitude & thanksgiving

Thanksgiving night I spent 4 hours going through almost 15 years of photos. I think I overdosed on memories, but what a great way to close out my Thanksgiving day! God has blessed me with a life full of dear family and friends. So many sweet memories of good times and life together. I have so much to be thankful for! As I embark on these next steps on the road with "eager feet," it is also sad to wrap-up this current chapter.

"Gratitude as recognition, receptivity, and response is a basic attitude and action of the Christian life. We not only recognize and are aware of God's gifts to us, but also continually find ways of saying thanks to God in worship, prayer, and 'whatever we say or do.' Our aim is to live our whole life as a sacred gesture of thanksgiving, a deep bow of gratitude, solidifying our relationship with God." ~ Sacred Space, Don Postema

God is so good! May the gestures and posture of gratitude remain throughout the year!

getting this started...

The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow it if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins the larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say?
~ Bilbo Baggins in the Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings begins with Bilbo Baggins leaving the home at the Shire for an unknown destination. He did not know what was ahead on the road but he headed off with eager feet. He knew the road was far ahead, yet he was off to follow it as best he could.

Bilbo’s song resonates with me. I feel a bit like Bilbo not knowing what is ahead. This blog is my attempt to share my path on the road with all of you. It is good for our paths on the road to meet.

Okay, I am gonna need to make this up as I go! I'm old skool. But, here is my best attempt to share all I am experiencing and learning as I begin this new season and journey. As I soon begin 18-months of travel and life overseas, I hope to regularly share reflections, random & fun stories, pictures, updates, and questions. I am realizing that it is often more about asking the right questions than having all the answers.

Here is the nutshell summary of the next 18-months:

February-April 2006 – Personal Around the World Trip
My dream frequent flyer mile trip! The stops include: Buenos Aires, Argentina w/ the Forcattos; Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; Johannesburg, South Africa w/ the Biedebachs; Cape Town, South Africa; Mumbai, Goa, & Calcutta, India w/ Jon Derby; Bangkok & Phuket Thailand w/ Jon. It will be good and sweet to be with friends serving in these places.

June-November 2006 – WMF Internship (Part I) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Word Made Flesh (WMF) serves among the poorest of poor around the world. The Brazil missionaries live and minister in favela slum neighborhoods in Rio. They minister among those who suffer from drugs, poverty, and violence, especially children living on the streets.

January-April 2007 – WMF Internship (Part II) in Cape Town, South Africa
I will take what I learn in Brazil and explore new ministry opportunities for myself and Word Made Flesh in South Africa. Specific areas of exploration will involve partnering with ministries sharing God’s love, peace, and hope to those impacted by AIDS/HIV, racism, and poverty. There are many children who live on the streets in Cape Town.

Let the blogging begin... this will be fun!!