August Rush.

August Rush

June raced by, July’s whizzing by, and Augusts rushing.

It’s easy to get lost in the way time is flying, to forget where I am or what I am doing.

It’s easy to get so caught up in the planning (or seeming lack thereof), counting down the days until I know what’s to be done.

It’s easy to become focused on the things I do wrong, the ways I need to improve, and how to become spiritually strong.

But today I resisted. I resisted the temptation to let this day rush by right in front of my eyes. Instead I slowed down and listened.

A solo journey to the embassy turned into an adventure, my senses alive, determined to capture something new. And I became August.

As the subway rushed along the track, as the cars rushed the street, as the people rushed up the stairs, stomping their feet, as the horns blew, and the trash did too, I listened.

As the smells mixed, some good, some bad, some powerful enough to asphyxiate even the strongest of people, I smelled.

As the birds chirped, as the wind blew, as the people talked, my ears captured the sounds, mixing them together to create a song, a song that cannot be bound by words.

As I used my senses, I heard music, a symphony, one that surpasses any that I’ve heard since I’ve been alive. Natural and raw, the music rang in my ears, a smile spreading across my face, my senses engaged and mind flowing.

As I walked along today, I slowed down and became August Rush.

And boy, was it a rush.

A Body United.

There’s something beautiful about unity.

About unity amidst diversity.

About a bond that supersedes any disagreement.

There’s something stunning about a body of people who are united.

In Spirit and purpose.

Of the same mind.

And that’s what I’ve seen in the church in China.

It’s amazing to see the church shine under the same head, all heading the same direction, directing their energies and actions toward the same goal.

The goal of redemption, of making broken people whole, holistically healing through the power of G od.

It’s amazing to see the church united, one body, not differentiated by multiple denominations, and denominations within denominations. There’s no quarrels over who’s right and who how to write the bylaws. There’s just unity. In a country where everything is monitored, they are still bolder than we are, growing rapidly, some would even say exponentially.

It’s incredible the power of a body united, not divided, for a house divided against itself cannot stand. But here they seem to stand together, as a people, a people seeking the reconciliation of a nation.

There are no questions of what church-type, what denomination,  what background you come from, but instead the church is bonded together by love. Something that may be absent in the city culture as a whole. We as foreigners must be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves, but they are bold. They are humble and hunger for more, more understanding of who G od is, but already understanding the power in standing together.

Government churches, house churches, family churches, small groups, pra yer meetings, it’s encouraging.

Encouraging yet humbling.

For I fear the church in America is falling apart.  There are so many issues to cause us to divide. We are blessed with deep Bi blical education, but with that comes the possibility of dissension because of different interpretation. We get caught up in so many things, forgetting what we are even arguing about. We attack instead of encourage.

What if we found common ground, grounded in the deep, unchanging Truths of Chri stianity, united as a body, working out our theology humbly seeking always the direction of G od. What if we stood together as a nation, under G od, driven by an overflow of love, reflection the perfect one, as water reflects the sun. What if we realized we won’t get there, we won’t see every detail, we won’t arrive, but instead of giving up, that caused us to strive together as a body that works together in unity.

Each member doing it’s part, but all working toward the same purpose.

What if we realized that we can unite on the core truths, on Mere Chris tianity.

Imagine if we were united in love. How the world would be.

Because, as I’m learning, there’s something so beautiful about unity.

Life Goes On.

Life goes on.

Actually, it rushes on.

When we just want a breather, when we are struggling to find clean air, when we are so exhausted we can hardly breathe, life goes on.

When we find ourselves distracted, late, attacked with the questions of life, life goes on.

No matter how slow I wish it would go, I’ve found that it does not listen to me. It seems to be one speed, and that speed is ever increasing.

Back then a month seemed like forever, and now a year flies by before I can blink my eyes. I can hardly keep up, the wind from the pace bringing tears to my eyes. But life goes on.

When we’re down and out, when we’re out of work, money, or out of town, life goes on.

A hospital visit won’t slow it down. No, checking out mentally, physically, emotionally won’t either. Even when our minds aren’t fully there, life is.

We can run, but we can’t hide. Life is quick. It can catch up wherever we try to escape to.

When our lives are jam packed, with working, personal business, eating, and maybe a bit of sleeping, life doesn’t slow down. Instead it seems to do the opposite, the turbo speed flipping up.

When we take a nap on our motor bikes, in a store or on a bench, life doesn’t sleep with us, but while we’re asleep it may throw in a wrench, catching us off guard, robbing us of precious time, but could we survive without sleep? Without rest? No. But even when we sleep, life goes on.

It goes on and on and we have no way of knowing when it will stop. So why do we always try to escape it? Can we never learn to embrace it? To stop and smell the roses (or stinky tofu)? To hold our children tight? To reflect on the happenings of the day as we say good night?

Can we not find time to slow down? To breathe? To maybe even sit down? Can we face each day with a smile and the decision to follow life, to embrace it, instead of always chasing it, hoping we can catch it and anchor it down? Trying to contain it and make it submit to our terms?

We can’t alter it, we can’t escape it’s speed, but one thing we may be able to do is alter our attitude, our perspective, the way we see.

Because either way,

Life goes on.