april 1, 2001
happy april fool's day everyone...
just wanted to share with you guys two experiences i've had in the last couple of weeks and how they affected me.
two fridays ago, i ditched work to go snowboarding with some friends. yeah, believe it or not, i really felt bad about missing work but i got over it quickly! ha ha. anyhow, it was an awesome day - the sun was shining, the sky was clear...all that good weather stuff. and man, i guess i've been cooped up in the lab (and in front of this laptop) for too long, cuz the first few times i went up on the lifts, i was totally, completely awestruck by the beauty of the surroundings. it's not the first time i've been up there, but taking in the majesty of the sierras really made me appreciate again the wonder of god's creation. and as much fun as i had, knowing at the end of the day, that god spoke to me and reminded me of his power (and his flair for the beautiful and dramatic too!) made my day off that much more memorable. and thanks to martin, mellanie (yes, i DID go to the lakers finals), jessica, daniel, sol, and christy (did i spell that right?) for sharing in my fun...
on saturday, a group of people at my church preparing to go on short-term missions got the chance to do a cool team building exercise at a ropes course in sonoma county, california (a couple hours north of san francisco, amongst the redwoods). if you haven't heard of it, basically, they have this obstacle course of rope bridges, ladders, and lines up in the trees that you have to navigate. no joke - this was one of the most fun things i've done in a long time! i could go on and on about this, but what i wanted to share happened after everyone had gone through. we sat around and talked about what we had gotten out of the experience. it was such a blessing to hear everyone else's experiences: some were struck by a sense of humility, others cherished the encouragement they received from others. for me, knowing that the cables tethering us to the course at all times were made to withstand thousands of pounds, i knew that no matter how difficult any of those obstacles appeared, i would be safe even if i stumbled. moreover, i knew i could go all out, without fear; in the end, i felt as if i gained more from the experience knowing that i didn't hold back at all when i was up there. and so it is with the relationship i have with god! he won't ever, ever let me go. no matter what comes along in my life, even if it knocks me off my feet , he'll always be there to catch me. and knowing that an omnipotent god has my back, i can live my life going all out, having the courage to live my life taking risks for his sake. even now, i have trouble letting go of the safety line at times, but i pray that god will continue to give me the faith to live my life with reckless abandon for him!