Simply a Glass Half Full

Hearts Safe (A Better Way) :)

I’ve never liked growing up. When I was little, I even hated it more. Now it isn’t too bad. I mean, getting your license and turning 18 are two major life goals, right? All you can do is live wisely and cherish optimism.

It would be wrong to say that I won’t miss being a child, though still some would consider me that. Seemingly, most adults and teens would tell you that they miss their childhood… I guess I was just a very smart child for missing my childhood when I was still living it.

I’ll miss playing hide and seek in the dark at Bible study with Josh and Chris. (I think that that’s where that tradition started, though I don’t play it with them anymore.) I’ll miss all of our trampoline games…those universal and those solely indigenous to my house. Staring up at the night sky with all those stars twinkling overhead…realizing how vast and magnificent the universe is, even discussing the existence of demons. Yes, we discussed things of that kind at a young age. But on that exact topic, when a shooting star streaked across the sky, we were scared so much that we ran inside…our imagination constantly got the better of us. My best friends and I built forts, shot bows, explored the forest, fought with quartarstaffs until we got bloody knuckles, made secret hideouts, built fire rings, and played Robin Hood. Again, not typical girl stuff, but we have never been typical people. Of course we did do many girly things, such as do our hair like princesses, pick flowers, play hula-hoop, wear tiaras, wear our moms’ makeup, play house, cook things we found in the outdoors, and play dress up—mostly all at my insistence, still we were anything but typical…and still are.

It is so ironic that you hear the saying, “You’ll never know how much you’ll miss it until it’s gone,” yet this saying is capable of holding steadfastly to its veracity. You may know something is true, but you may not be able to fully comprehend its truth until you experience it.

People are capable of greatness. Touching people’s lives through service is one of the highest tasks in existence. Many do this in ignorance. Recently a friend of mine went to work through an internship; he is away so much now. I never really realized how awesome he was…until he was no longer here for me to not associate with him every Sunday. As kids, we were best friends, and I was also best friends with his brother, but sadly that all changed as we grew up and children’s play no longer connected us with it’s fragile bond. Now that we have grown up, we finally started talking again, via email because he goes to college many states away. We finally have become friends again, and I’m so glad we have. His younger brother and I have become friends again as well, though only through conversations after youth group, but you’d be surprised how much you can fit into a ten minute talk, especially after you’ve had so many every Wednesday, without fail.

Finally, I’ve grown to understand that old addage.

From all different walks of life they come.
Some old, some young,
they come and sit in silence.
Not acknowledging their neighbors,
Caught up in their own lives.
Consumed by an obsession with technology,
Lost in the depths of another world.
Still few read classic tales,
Others read grotesque works masquerading as fine literature.
To pass the time,
To begin or end a journey of various lengths, they are here.
For business, for family, for self-important purpose they come.
All trusting the pilot to deliver them safely, and some completely trusting God.
The beeping monster admits them
To enter into the belly of the beast.
And finally depart at the journey’s end,
No closer to each than when it began.

In Home Depot an aisle was closed off. We were curious as to what the big commotion was over, so we wandered over there, as close as possible. Suddenly a platform began to ascend, carrying a man, who was strapped to it, upwards. In his hand, he held an extra long reacher. He was looking upwards, but his point of his attention was not the ceiling, it was a bird.

Upon further inspection, we saw the bird’s leg was caught in the metal ceiling rafter. Immediately I dashed around the corner and kneeled down. Clapsing my hands, eyelids shut tight, I prayed my heart out. About a minute later, someone came to find me, and interrupted my prayer. I quickly finished with AMEN. “Were you praying for the man?” she asked.

I was hesitant to answer. “No…I was praying for the bird.”

At this she laughed, and I understand why…I guess.

1. Searching Google Images for a Vashta Nerada picture…when sitting in a dark room.

2. Shadows.

3. Gas masks of any kind.

4. Weeping Angel statues, pictures, tattoos, videos, etc. 

5. Any statues.

6. Creepy people repeating everything you say.

7. Scarecrows.

8. Dolls, wind up toys, and toys in general.

9. A car with a GPS.

10. Weight loss pills.

11. Cracks…in walls…

12. Television.

13. Old people.

14. Water.

15. Mannequins.

16. Funeral homes…

17. The tick of a clock…especially if you can’t see the clock.

18. 18th century France.

19. Teachers.

20. Bluetooth.

21. Children’s drawings.

22. Sharpie markers and, or tally marks.

23. Forgetting ANYTHING.

24. Sitting in a dark room, writing a list like this.

25. Blinking.