What's Up with That?

I was watching the news this afternoon and saw where a bunch of people have started showing up at a Chicago freeway underpass to see a water stain in the image of the Virgin Mary. It was interesting watching the responses of the visitors. Some cried. Others were rejoicing. I've never personally seen such phenomena (It doesn't seem to happen as much in rural Mississippi where I grew up). I'm curious why God would choose to reveal Himself in such a way. Is this for real or is it just a human response to the events in the Catholic Church over the past few weeks? It seems to bring some closer to God while others are skeptical. I'm neither at this point. Let me know what you think.

I had the opportunity to dialogue with a local High School's Freshman class about sex. I helped them understand that there are repercussions to having sex, both physically and mentally. During the several classes I got to talk with, we had time at the end to just talk with no other "adults" around. I asked them to tell me what they would like for other adults to know about them that we can misunderstand at times. The biggest thing was the need for their parents to trust them. They said a lot of their parents were tougher on them because of what they did growing up and it is causing a backlash. They resonated with the need for better communication on their parent's part. I wonder what happens when a generation of teens raised by overprotective parents gets to college. I know the students that were wildest when I was in college were the ones who had parents that called and checked in on them every night. They practically pushed their kids to rebel. It was good to see some young men and women with good heads on their shoulders though.

Music and art

Music:
I was listening to the lyrics of the 3 Doors Down song, "Let Me Go" the other day when this verse stuck out to me:

"you love me,
but you don't know who i am
so let me go
let me go"

That's really where most of us stand. We think that if people really knew us, they wouldn't want to be near us. There are times where I risk being too transparent and scaring people off. There are other times where I clam up and let nobody in. The great thing is that the God who created us also knows us, warts and all, and He still chooses not to let us go. Great love is about giving, not receiving. 1 John 4:19 tells us we are loved because God first loved us. God is the greatest lover because He gives loves, not because He receives love. Its something I try and struggle with every day. To love someone even once I get to know them (-: Its easy to say we love someone from a distance. The hard part is when we break past that barrier of pretense and get actively involved in each other's lives. Things get messy. The honeymoon's over. But that's also the time when we experience true intimacy.

Art:
I've become fascinated by Georges Rouault, an impressionist painter that kept to himself for the most part. I am falling in love with some of the modern art I'm finding and his work stands out to me (see pic below).


I'm not sure what to make of the image before you except to say that it resonates with me. I prefer to see Christ with a smile but there is also a serious side that cannot be ignored. I'd like to see more pictures of Jesus with a smile though. Have you found some that resonate with you? Please e-mail me with any you find.