In the words of Pat (a woman I often have lunch with at Wal-Mart)

Imagine this in a sweet southern accent.

"God loves us so much,

God loves us so much"

...that he does,

that he does...

I have sat here for hours.

I have tried to think of something worthwhile to say.

Nothing showed up.

It seems that inspiration chose not to knock on my door this evening.

Things I want to do before I die.

Travel and see a majority of the world.

Be the singer in a band.

Write a novel.

Publish my poetry.

Paint a masterpeice.

Change someone's life.

Learn to love like Christ.

Say goodbye to addictions.

...those are a few things I would like to accomplish.

Currently Listening Decemberunderground By AFI see related

Here the ghosts assemble,

forcing uncomfortable smiles and telling white lies.

They all want to appear alright,

bragging of recent accomplishments.

It's here the ghosts reunite,

knowing nothing can ever make it the same.

Their lives have shattered,

and their paths rarely converge again, except for here.

The ghosts come to meet again,

and make eye contact with fractured familiarity.

The candles shrink down,

causing conversation to grow thin.

This night the ghosts regain memory,

smiling at the rebirth of the past.

You can hear their laughter on this night,

echoing over the telling of dusty stories.

Here the ghosts assemble,

remembering the life that has come to pass.

-Justin

I must love.

love.....and not some sappy dictionary deffinition.

A true, difficult, active, living love. You know, the stuff God is made of.

I must forgive.

forgive....true and unconditional.

A forgiveness of other, but sometimes more importantly a forgiveness of myself.

I must pray

prayer.....a kind that seems almost constant.

Conversation with God is the only way I can get to know him.

I must thank

Thank....God everday.

Every breath should be taken with reverence and thankfullness for it could be my last.

I must smile

smile.....one that is genuine and filled with joy.

A smile is a simple tool I must use to spread the love of God

LOVE

FORGIVE

PRAY

THANK

SMILE

.....all we have is now......

-Justin

Currently Listening A Day Without Rain By Enya see related

A year.

Exactly a year has gone by since my last post.

Friends marry. Others have children. Loved ones move far away. Sisters graduate. Hair colors change. Laughs echo. Tears fall. Job's frustrate. Relationships develope or break down. Sickness spreads. Majors change. Games are beat. Enemies become friends. Death strikes. It rains. It snows. Books are read. Degrees are earned. Socks get holes. Gifts are given. Smiles are shared. Stories are told.

A year. So much changes. So much happens.

I can only think of one thing that remains constant.

The love of God.

God. A friend who in this year has never left my side even though I have been rather awful. There are days that the love of God, even in the smallest of doses amazes me to the point I must catch my breath.

Thank you God for this year. Bless me with one just as wonderful, and filled with love and laughter.