All Over but the Shoutin'

Just finished yet another summer read, another summer read I was sad to see end. My own simple synopsis: in a fascinating storytelling memoir, Rick Bragg documents his life from growing up on the cusp of poverty in rural Alabama to winning the Pulitzer Prize for a piece of his while writing for the New York Times. But it is not your typical self-made man pulling himself out of poverty story but beautifully dictates the bittersweet reality of family life and love over time.

My favorite quote: "Every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it."

Random act of kindness.

Last Thursday, I was out to lunch. I am working as the Youth Intern at my church this summer and last week was the official start. My boss Luke (the new youth minister), one of my biggest role models Rob (the previous youth minister) and my fellow Australian intern Jono and I sat down at Harold's House of Omelettes for some fine dining. We ordered quite possibly the most random assortment of food for noon on a Thursday--omelette, sandwich, iced tea, soup, french fries, a burrito, and three chocolate milkshakes. Now would be a good time to tell you that it is tradition to drink a chocolate milk shake with whatever you order to eat.

When our waiter brings us our food and sees the coupon we were planning on using to pay for our lunch, he lets us know our coupon is good for nothing. Sad day. But after a long meal that you leave so full it's almost dissatisfying, we ask for our check. Our waiter lets us know it has already been taken care of--by the man who had sitting in the booth behind us. When we looked around in surprise and slight confusion, he asked, "you didn't know him?" When we all shook our heads in silence, struck by the random act of kindness from a complete stranger who didn't stick around for us to see him. Whether he was intrigued by us talking about our plans for the church this summer or amused by our failed attempt to use a coupon, we saw a little bit of God's face that afternoon, even if we never saw the stranger's.

Saying it well.

This morning, I got to reading my blog that documents my journey to Camp Greystone last summer, "and here it goes." It had probably been half a year since I even looked at it and as I read, I felt like I was walking around Greystone, my chaco-ed feet wet with morning dew, my camera draped around my neck and my bright blue watch strapped around my left wrist. I was caught in the middle of happy memories, some more than a year old now and wishing I could experience it all again.

It also got me thinking. I miss writing for the sheer purpose of sitting down and putting thoughts on paper--er, computer. So here it goes again. A new blog for new beginnings and new experiences in my everyday life.

Inspired by my favorite quote:

"Let me live, love and say it well in good sentences." ~Sylvia Plath