Stepping into the warrior life

Most of you know that my favorite movie genre is the big Historical Epic/Adventure films and this past week I finally got to see one of the best of that genre. 300 was the first film in a long time that I felt I had to go see more than once. And I did!

There wasn’t an aspect of the film that I didn’t enjoy. In the midst and long after the film, I began reflecting on my own longing for a Warrior life. No, I certainly am not going to sign up for the military! I believe that there is another way, a better, healthier way of being a Warrior.

I remember that it was a year ago that I had an awakening and a healthy understanding of what a Warrior looked like. I suppose that I need to revisit those goals and begin to live them out as best as I can.

One of those goals that I have wanted to achieve for nearly two years will finally happen as I pack my bags for the Pine Barrens in New Jersey at the end of August and take the Standard Course at Tom Brown's Tracker School. Maybe it will be the launch pad for me to fully immerse my being into the life of a Warrior.

Longing in the midst of working

Sorry that I have not posted in a while. I have been busy working full-time again with Home City Ice as well as continuing to deliver the Journal Gazette 7 days a week. I'll make an attempt to post more as time allows...

It's funny how last year I was at the APA retreat at Camp Mack living out the deepest longings of my heart and 1 year later I am living a life of work with little time to reconnect with those longings.

Becoming what you are

These have been real words of encouragement for me lately. It is taken from The Sources of Taize.

Fulfillment?
Are you hesitating over a choice for fear of making a mistake?

Stop summoning your own darkness to cover your refusal. Happy are those who tent their hands from their eyes and dare to go forward, sustained solely by the trusting of faith.

Fulfillment?
Become what you are in your heart of hearts...
and the gates of a spirit of childhood will open, the wonder of a love.

A fountain of gladness surges up for you. Not euphoria, not just any kind of joy, but the jubilation that comes form the wellsprings of eternity.

Point of no Return

(A prayer of confession, written 4/13/07)

Risen Christ,

You expect the whole of my life,
And yet all I have given are mere crumbs.

You are praying within me day and night,
But I set aside 30 minutes for devotions.

You are the source of living water,
But I prefer to dig cracked cisterns.

Tirelessly You were seeking me,
All the while, I sought You only when I was weary and tired.

You give me strength to rise beyond my past,
Once my hand is on the plow, I preferred to look back.

You have placed on my finger the ring of the prodigal son,
And I know there's a vast pasture that holds herds of fatted calves
for every time I've crawled home.

You ask me to commit myself to the point of no return,
Yet somehow, it remains a threshold I am unwilling to cross.

Forgive me.
Heal me.
Strengthen me.
Open me.
Receive me.