Below is a collection of random thoughts from our vacation as I begin to decompress a bit. Warning, these are very random and not all warm and fuzzy.
1. One quote both started and wrecked my entire week in Wrightsville Beach. One simple quote.
Human beings never behave more badly towards one another than when they believe they’re protecting God.”
2. That quote came from This Sermon (pick it up at 32:35). Go ahead and watch that. This blog will still be here when you get back.
3. He also said “We’ve convinced ourselves that God needs protecting.”
4. God doesn’t need protecting.
5. I quit using facebook for reasons of the quote above (among other things).
6. That quote was an uppercut, this was the knockout punch….
All these things that you’re protesting. All these things that you’re holding you’re hand up and saying God’s against that, they hold no value.“
7. Yeah but…..
The ONLY THING that counts is faith EXPRESSING itself through love.” -Galations 5:6
8. Paul with the ultimate Mic Drop there. I spent the week thinking about how that could possibly look. It’s almost easier to be against a bunch of stuff. Love is messy.
9. Example – How can I love someone I have a fundamental disagreement with regarding how you treat people…..and he’s a Pastor. (think about THAT.)
10. All of that happened on our first day there…..
11. I warned you this was random…. I was born in Alaska, grew up in Cleveland and am convinced I was created to live in North Carolina.
12. There seems to be a large number of population of Wilmington that smoke. Either that or Columbus has done an incredible job of curbing public smoking. No statement, just an observation.
13. For the first time I was walking with my 12 year old daughter and began instructing her on what to look for when she (gulp) dates. If he’s not opening the door or walking on the proper side of the sidewalk to protect you, keep looking. Chivalry is not dead. Set that bar high Princess 1.0.
14. Multiple times I looked at my children and thought “when did they get so big?”
15. I turn 45 on Tuesday. In a rather somber and maybe morbid moment of reflection, I realized I’ve most likely passed the halfway pole. I doubt this body will see 90 years old. In complete honesty, my next thought was 60. That’s only 15 years. That’s my first born child. While I sure hope it’s longer than that, it was a hard drink of reality that every moment, every day, every year must absolutely count.
16. I took the book “Not a Fan” with me. Good read…for 3 chapters. I couldn’t stay engrossed in it when life was happening right in front of me. There were waves to body surf and laughs to share.
17. Body surfing is natures largest “Neti Pot.”
18. We stayed in a friends home all week. I was obsessive about keeping it clean and perfect. “The body is a temple of God” and I take horrible care of mine.
19. Wilmington to Columbus is a long time to process.
20. I came up with most of this during that drive from Wilmington to Columbus.
There will probably be much more to come. This was just the stuff that came from the drive back home. I miss being there already…..
13! Living it with MY Princess 1.0. Praying every day!
15- We have no promise of tomorrow, but I feel your pain. 50 is 1.5 years away and I know I ain’t making 100!
17- Lived it, and it is true! I can case my eyes and feel the burn.
Thank you for a great reminder in your random thoughts brother. Blessing your way for a Happy 45th!
Great random post Aaron!!!
Happy Birthday Brother!!
Aaron,
First Of All…Happy Birthday My Friend!! I Hope Your Special Day Is Truly An AMAZING One!!!
Now, As To Your “Random Vacation Thoughts”. Why Must You ALWAYS Make Me Sit Here And See How This Applies To My Life!! LOL 🙂
I Am So With You On Number 9. ” (Example – How Can I Love Someone I Have A Fundamental Disagreement With Regarding How You Treat People…..And He’s A Pastor. )
When We Walked Away From THAT CHURCH …Stephen And I Were Truly CONVINCED That Really, The Only People Who Showed Us The Love Of Jesus In The Way That Jesus Would….Was You…..”Yours Truly & His Wife”. There Was A Method To My Madness When I Sent You The Book…”In HIS Steps” By Charles M. Sheldon. Whether You Read The Book Or Not…You Live Your Life As Though You Did Read It…And If You Didn’t Read It…I Would Hope That You Take A Few Days And Give Yourself An AMAZING Gift By Reading It. I Promise You Won’t Be Sorry!! The Answer To Number 9 Lies Within That Book!!
I Have Listened To ALL Of That Sermon…WOW!! Now I Am Telling You…You Really Should Read That Book I Sent You!! 🙂 As Per His 1st Question At The End…That Is The BIGGEST Reason Stephen And I Left THAT CHURCH! Other Than Your Wife…Never
Was There One Person Who Contacted Us To Find Out Why We No Longer Came To THAT CHURCH. I Can Not Even Begin To Tell You What You And Your Wife Mean To My Son And I! Why?? Because You Are REAL, You Are Down To Earth, You Love Jesus But Yet You Love People The Way That Jesus Would.
From The 2nd Question He Asked At The End…What Does Love Require Of You?God Gave Us A Glimpse Of How Much He Loves Us…By How Much You And Heather Loved Us!! You Never Blew Me Off Making Yourself To Be More Important Like Some Others Did…That I Will Not Mention. We Have NEVER Heard From Anyone (Other Than You And Your Beloved) In THAT CHURCH Since The Day We Left And Never Went Back. I Personally Think It’s Pretty Sad…But That’s OK Because I Know How Much Jesus Loves My Son And I!! But You Loved Stephen Enough To Make It So That He DIDN’T COMPLETELY HARDEN HIS HEART, And Turn Away From Jesus….Thank You For That!
Love You, Heather, Austin, And Princess1.0, And Princess2.0