Pre-Move

The sun gently wakes me up. Missing vertical blinds are to blame. With all the energy of a slug, I turn over. "What time is it? 6 a.m. Why am I awake?" I get up and go for a walk. It's the last time I'm going to do my "square" that I've done since I came home from Canada last year. I was listening to U2 and trying to cherish all the palm trees one last time.

I get back, and go to breakfast with Dad at the restaurant on the corner. We go pick up the U-haul afterwards. Steve J. Kowalski Movers were right on time, and we were glad to see them. Moving can be a really stressful thing, especially for me. Having all the clutterred boxes everywhere just seemed wrong. Praise God for Steve. He made all the chaos disappear in a matter of hours and we were left with half an empty house. I don't think Steve realizes how much of a blessing he is by being the same honest hardworking believer who unabashedly prays with other believers and shares the Gospel with people. If someone we're looking for discipleship, I would tell them to go hang out with Steve.

Evie and Joey were a huge help. Me and my father are not the giants we seem to be. My dad has low back pain, and the injuries I recieved from the car accident a few year ago limit me at times too. I helped where I could, with what I could. I always wish that I could do more, say more, and generally be more than what's humanly possible.

I got a chance to fellowship with Steve while he was working. It was great. I've worked with him before, and I think it was mutually encouraging for both of us. I forget that I got a chance to help out with "Walk on Water", and that production resulted in at least one guy getting saved. That's pretty cool. After all the boxes were put away, me and Steve were still talking. I forgot about the time, and the fact that Dad wanted to meet another friend Andy Malkie at the same restaurant we went to for breakfast.

It was great to talk to Andy about art, how he started drawing, and his thoughts about different topics. He had his baby girl with him, and she was definitely a cutie. She would get fussy when no one would pay attention to her, but was pretty good. Dad had an idea for a gospel track for church folks, and Andy had put together some sketches to go with his idea. They were really good. I hope to see it put together someday, even if it's just for friends and family.

We came back home. I was still weary from my six hours of sleep, since someone wouldn't stop snoring (even at a distance). I checked my cell for a text from an old friend from college. It was Brandon, and he wanted to meet up. I picked the place and time that was most convenient for both of us.

My friend Brandon, who was part of a men's group I led at SPC, is now a pastor at Apostolic Baptist Church. I found out he's not the senior pastor, but in a lineup. They're going to gradually pull him up to the pulpit. We talked about things going on in my life with family, and future plans. He gave me a really good quote from his senior pastor. "No one can control the hand of God." Amen! My opinion matters very little to what God wants to accomplish. I talked about how I felt like that my will and God's will are not always the same. In fact, most of the time, they're diametrically opposed. In fact, I've analyzed the last ten years, and even the past year, and usually what I want, does not usually happen. What God wants, however, always happens, and I'm usually better off for it. The challenge of the Christian walk is to present ourselves honestly saying what we want, but submitting to what God wants instead. I had to leave to make it back home for the last socail outing of the day...cracker barrel.

Evie, Joey, Dad, me, and our good friend, Mark Scotti all met together at Cracker Barrel, just like used to earlier this year. We had a lot of fun talking about all kinds of things. Food, thanksgiving plans, and getting on the road. My favorite part of the night was hanging out with Mark in the car. It was good fellowship for us both.