One week ago today, it was cold here. Michelle called me from work, which is about 20 miles to the north of where we live, to tell me there was snow on the ground. On Friday, we had record setting temperatures . . . but not of the cold variety - the thermometer hit 80. As I look out the window of our home office a little after 5am, I see the silhouettes of large pines being pushed and pulled by strong winds, and it's back to our normal temperature range.

The shifts in weather have been an apt metaphor for life. In the face of some disappointing realities, I've been seriously considering a revamp of some projects I've worked on for the past year and a half. It would mean rapid change, a new flurry of work, and a new learning curve . . . oh yeah, and a lot of prayer and faith.

I'm coming down to crunch time on some school deadlines, so there's two big stacks of books and another two big stacks of journal articles consuming our dining room table. In this sense, I knew what was coming, and I've actually done a pretty decent job of preparing for it.

My parents, grandmother, sister, nephews, and niece are flying in for a visit tomorrow. This will be their first visit since we moved here, so that should be fun. Maybe after over two years here I'll actually go to the space needle for the first time, eh?

I enjoy the challenge of my job, and especially the creative freedom (and encouragement) I have to create incarnational environments and opportunities for college students. I enjoy school, with the push to read tons of books on a range of topics. I've enjoyed working with a couple church planting types over the past couple of months. I'll enjoy having family around. All that to say that I'm not complaining about the busy-ness or the pace.

I will say that I'm tired. In some ways, I'm not handling the fatigue and stress all that well. In other ways, I'm doing just fine. I think the thing that worries me in times like this is that if I'm going to be tired and stressed out, I want it to be over the right things. Am I giving myself away to what the Master would call good? Am I celebrating the Resurrection through hopeful efforts? Do I live into a hope that is alive, and do so in a way that stirs that hope up in others?

Much to learn, much more to practice. More love to share. More peace to proclaim. Much injustice to combat. Much walking to do.