I quantify everything! It's a game constantly at play in my head (among a zillion other games, social experiments I'm carrying out on myself and with myself). So I'm trying to decide the number one thing I am most thankful for this year!
It's been a big year! I lost a job and God gave me a new one, and then another new one! And I learned the value of not placing too much of your self identity in work (which is hard for all of us type A workaholics out there).
While training for a big race, I blew my knee and have watched my running slide over the past several months. But at least I have two legs, and I can run. I just can't run the soul cleansing distances I ran in the past. My blessings are so BIG, my flesh is just weak.
I bought a house. In the midst of this financial chaos God has blessed me by allowing me to take on this huge responsibility. May I use it to His glory. I'm learning that EVERYTHING, every ASPECT of my life is under God's control, including my (excuse me, His) money.
I have great friends. Friends I can call in the middle of the night, friends who see me and love me in the midst of craziness, friends who continually blow my mind with their beauty. We are all God's creation, whether we confess it or not.
I also have a great family. They are a solid foundation, and I love them to bits! They constantly remind me of the value of God's family, his church, and our responsibilities to them. Ahh, what sweet times of fellowship!
I'm getting married. Which is such a serious, fun, awesome, scary feeling. It's such a huge blessing that I barely even could hope for it. I'm excitied to see what path God has for us, His plan for OUR future. To sharpen one another, to strengthen each other. Oh and what a guy! :)
But what I think I am most THANKFUL for this year, is God's love. He gave us the ability to love, and what a gift it is! Marrying a man of God is such a reflection of this love. And gives such depth to the imagery of the church being Christ's bride. It covers me, it covers me...
Jarsh pimps dew!
Han and J dig deep for mustache inspiration!
ake a photography class, take a pottery class, re-landscape my yard, join the gym to jump back into my running training, get certified as a yoga instructor, buy a house and turn it into a coffee shop... I have a zillion ideas! I think what I need is a clone...or three! I don't know how to prioritize this part of my life. How do other people practice this form of discipline? Maybe I should just sleep less... :)
Perhaps the most distracting aspect (at least on a daily basis) of geography for me is the concept of Personal Geography, the value we place on locations in our mind. This concept is strongly tied to the psychology of place, and the emotions behind spatial thinking. If you asked a room full of your friends to draw a map of your town, the result would be a distinct variety of maps. Humans often have a tendency to place a larger emphasis on locations they are familiar with, of places that have emotional ties for them. These places loom larger in our minds, are drawn bigger on our maps. 
My niche formed around the rural ranch where I grew up, extending from there to the college town and university I attended, to the mountains that became my playground. I'm in the midst of a change of focus in my geography, moving into a new house and developing a new relationship. It is already beginning to change the paths of movement I create. Yet in the midst of change, there is 3rd dimension to my personal map. My constant is straight up, the z axis being my tie to God.
Posts
