A Resolution

God of Heaven and Earth, I pray that You would lead me:

To better love others, especially those I disagree with. 

–and better practice discernment with those I trust.

To tolerate the intolerable. 

–and know what to not tolerate.

To shut my mouth when I have nothing useful to say. 

–and know when I must not keep silent.

To speak the truth in love.

–and have increased communication with the Giver of perfect love.

To be willing to admit I am wrong. 

–yet hold by faith to the Truth.

To humble myself out of love for my brother

–and courageously do the work of the one who gives courage.

To strive toward the eternal goal with increased devotion

–and run to Jesus when I fail.

To deny myself, take up my cross, and follow

–and trust in the one who was denied by God, died on a cross and forgave me.

This is a little bit late for the new year, but I still wanted to post this. We can make so many promises to ourselves or to God that we cannot keep. Knowing where to turn when that happens is important. For those who repent and believe that Jesus saves, nothing we do will make Jesus love us more or less. Through Jesus, we are perfectly loved. We are seen as perfect, because Jesus took our sin on himself. Believe and remember that this year. 

Rain

The uneven dips in the cobblestone tarmac were overflowing onto the sidewalk with water colored rainbow by the petrol. I kept a brisk pace as my umbrella and upturned coat collar failed to keep me dry. I did my best to weave my way between the innumerable puddles. Apart from the one man I brushed shoulders with while passing the bollards at a corner, the streets were empty of pedestrians. A lone black saloon sped past which further aided in my drenching. I pulled my wool coat tighter about me and continued on.

In the quickening dusk, I turned onto an alleyway. I had reached my destination. A set of stone stairs descended to a thick, rough wood door braced by black iron. I gave the door three quick raps. After ten seconds, the door creaked open to reveal a little man with a thin wisp of white hair.

"Come in, come in!" he gestured with his whole frame. He wore a worn, stretched out sweater over a crisp dress shirt. I quickly accepted his invitation after folding and shaking out my umbrella. I entered to the heat of a crackling fire on the hearth. The man took my thoroughly saturated coat and scarf and hung them near the fire. I looked around me at the walls which were covered in shelves full of old tomes and volumes. The man followed my gaze, "I've had only a few years to collect most of these. The majority of my library was destroyed in a house-fire a number of years ago. A very sad day for a bibliophile such as myself… but come, you did not engage the rain and the cold to discuss dusty old books."

He led me over to an armchair by the fire, "Just a moment; I think the water is at a boil." He returned with a copper tea kettle and two mugs with tea. As he poured from the steaming kettle, the man said, "This is tea that I acquired on one of my trips to India. I have been saving it for a day such as this."

I took the cup and cradled it in my hands; allowing the heat from the fire and the tea to warm my bones. He took a seat opposite me in another worn armchair. His wrinkled face relaxed a little and he stared off in to space in his own musings. His left hand picked at a snag in the fabric of the armrest. An unconscious habit no doubt. I glanced down at my steaming cup and noticed the faded blue doilies that covered the armrests on either side of my chair. I smiled to myself.

"Where do you call home?" The man asked me.

"I have lived here in London for nearly six years now, but I still call Fordingbridge my home."

"Family there?"

I paused to take a sip of my tea. "Yes and no. I spent most of my growing up years there with my uncle. My mother lives in Lancaster."

"Mmm, I see."

There was a moment's silence again as we both took another sip of tea.

"What brought you into London?"

I set my tea to the side and thought for a moment. "I always wanted to live in this city. My mother sent me here for an education and I have been here since. Sometimes I wonder what I saw in all the busy streets and smoke filled air."

"And what do you do for a living? Mr. Drake?"

We both smiled, for that was the reason for my visit.

Leonard S. Bernstein

"Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time…The wait is simply too long."

—Leonard S. Bernstein

A Picnic

Jack plunged the jumper-class craft through the atmosphere of Albion V. I grinned at him and raised an eyebrow. I knew he was just trying to make me nervous. I didn't let him see my hand firmly clenched around the handle below my seat. He dropped faster and my hair flew up over my head. I was determined not to react. but, as I started to lift off my seat, my forced chuckle turned into a scream passing over my lips. I saw Jack throw back his head of curly hair and laugh, though I couldn't hear it over the air rushing past the ship.

As the clouds cleared, I could see through the viewport a vast hilly forest spanning the curve of the planet beneath us. Jack began to pull back on the yoke. Not fast enough.

"Slow down, Jack!" I couldn't help myself. It just came out.

He gave me his grin, that grin he always gives before he does something stupid to try and impress me. He let go of the yoke.

We listed sideways and accelerated in our plummet.

"Jack, stop it!" I was angry now. He must have seen the seriousness in my eyes for he grabbed the yoke and  pulled back, making my insides lurch. The g-force glued me to the seat and I imagined the attractive face I must have been making as I tried to hold my breakfast inside. We straitened out, but the engines were still screaming as they tried to slow us to a safe landing speed.

Jack found a relatively flat clearing and set us down safely, albeit a little rough. I could hear his laughter now as the engines spun down.

"Don't you ever do that again!" I palmed the button at my chest, unbuckling the harness.

"Laina!"

I ignored him as I stormed out. I was overreacting, I know. That boy just exasperated me sometimes.

As I exited the ship, I couldn't hold on to my anger. The young sun shone through picturesque clouds. This is what heaven must look like. I calmed myself down with my first gulp of the fresh air. It was the smell after rain but with the warmth of the beach.

"Laina, I'm sorry."

I turned toward Jack's voice. Poor boy thought I was still angry with him.  I grinned over my shoulder and ran down the hill.