Life on Yavin IV: Live Well

Life on Yavin IV

Hello there. I'm Jedi Knight G. Since the creation of the New Jedi Order by Master Skywalker, the Jedi have been free to take part in previously forbidden activities. One of those being Marriage. The following are the tales of my experiences being married with children. May the force be with you...G.

1.26.2006

Live Well

ok, well. My last post was kinda skattered. It was late. I was tired. There you go.

Well, I was thinking about how tired I was (emotionally & physically) and remebered something I read in the latest issue of Relevant Magazine.
I know it seems like everytime I post I'm talking about Relevant. Hey, when they stop writting good articles, I'll stop talking about them. So you may as well get used to it, because it's not likely to happen.
Anyway, this article is written by Kyle Lake. Kyle was the pastor at University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He had arthured 2 books; Understanding God's Will & [re]Understanding Prayer. He was a husband and father of 3. His ministry was having a huge impact. Why am I saying all this? Well, he died at the early age of 33. Which is why what he wrote is sooo profound and prophetic.
If your feeling like the life has been sucked away from you at times...(been there)...remember these words.

EXCERPTED FROM KYLE LAKE'S FINAL SERMON

OCT. 30, 2005

At the end of Garden State, Andrew Largeman has undergone a transformation. For the first time in his life, he's realized a sense of homesickness that he's felt for so many years-that he's been running from. He's prevented himself from feeling, but what Sam does is that she gives him permission to be himself. To experience the here and now in a relationship of honesty and vunerability. In grieving the death of his mom. In the comfort, warmth and messiness of friendship.
And here I think God is saying to each of us, "Abandon your plans of escape. And be where you are. Plant gardens and live and live well." I don't know what your planting gardens may look like, but let me end there by trying to provide a glimpse into what that may be like:

Live. And live well.
BREATHE. Breath in and breath deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal-clear, breezy, 70-degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool autumn day to freeze your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel and lose track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD...and if you crash, then crash well.
Feel the satisfaction of a job well done-a paper well written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well performed.
If you must wipe the snot from your 3-years old's nose, don't be disgusted if the kleenex didn't catch it all...because soon he'll be wiping his own.
If you've recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you're eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of life. Because it is most definately a gift.

posted by G. @ 6:53 PM

4 Comments:

At 9:01 PM, Cara said…

That's the most energizing post that I've read in a long, long time!! Thank you!! (I got alot more out of that compared to the last post where you were sleep writing!! hehe!!)
I really needed to hear that!! It's so true!! I'm dwelling on everything lately... When I should be realizing that it's all for a reason... And even better, it's only temporary!!
Glad your back!:)
At 5:35 AM, G. said…

Cara,

thanks. I'm glad to be back. My thoughts were all over the place during that last post. Oh and by the way, not long after I went to sleep....Xander woke up. Again. Weeeeeeeeee!
But I'm better now. Got my focus back. Found my center.
I'm enjoying getting up with him now. Savoring it. Before long, he won't be crying for me.
At 1:08 PM, Dare said…

That is some good stuff. However, it's a lot easier to read than it is to actually do. It's hard not to think about the "what ifs." I hope I can get there
At 6:15 PM, Anonymous said…

Great Stuff Paul! It can definitely revolutionalize your life when you apply it. It has definitely worked for me lately. God taught me the same lesson through another author. Keep learning and helping us to sharpen our swords!