Point. Set. Match.

I went to my first Iowa State volleyball game tonight, and boy, did it bring back a whole slew of emotions.  I miss the sport, the camaraderie, and the competition.  I found myself thinking about and missing a bunch of things:

• Pre-game dinners with the team
• Playing the rival school and going to five sets (and winning)
• All day Saturday tournaments
• The exhilaration I felt when being in the perfect position to dig a ball
• The thrill of a block, by any teammate
• Post-point cheers
• Being in incredible shape from workouts and games
• The intensity of the competition

Hopefully, I'll find a way to play here sometime soon.   I'm working on being OK with randomly joining a team through the city recreation center, but I worry that I'm going to be way too competitive and not find any fulfillment in playing.  For now, I'll use my energy to cheer on the No. 16 Iowa State team! Go Cyclones!

Sunday Morning Prayer

This morning at Cornerstone, we ended the service with this song. 

It helped me realize that it isn't until I fully know my weakness that I will see the need for God's grace in my life.  And knowing is not just saying I'm in need; I want it to break me, to take my breath away, to devastate me. 

"His spirit is strong in me..."

Seeking Spirituality in our Active World

Working spiritually smarter means seeking wholeness.  Some envision that we are in a "spiritual renaissance" and are recognizing the value of "a renewed search for contemplative values in the flurry of our active lives".  Exploring Leadership by Komives, Lucas, and McMahon

This thought was included in one of my graduate school readings this week, and it got me thinking.  The approach and value of spirituality is so wrong in the world we live in.  People are no longer considering spirituality for their futures (life after death, need for forgiveness and grace, etc.), but instead, people are becoming "spiritual" for the present.  They want health, stability, and calm moments in life so they can feel OK with the lives they lead and go onto the next busy task at hand.  We cannot work spiritually smarter by seeking wholeness in ourselves and in our work.  Complete wholeness can only come from above, from a Creator who is able to do far more than we can ever accomplish in our lowly lives on earth.

Our lifestyles are not going to slow down on their own.  We need to make conscious efforts to look to God and not our spirituality for comfort; find peace in the future life he has planned for us.  Think on that today with me.