Sometimes Concrete Looks Like Gold

Tonight I walked up 8th avenue towards 42nd on the same concrete streets I have walked nearly every week over the last year. I wore a huge smile on my face and carried a melody I haven't ever heard before in my ears. There have been interesting moments on these walks when I pulled my bag in a little closer and just watched with a little more intention, then there are nights like tonight when I could have sworn I was walking alone on bricks of gold. I honestly couldn't tell you if there was anyone else on the streets tonight, although there are the faint sounds of impatient cabbies in my far memory bank.

It's like I could see more clearly in the unseen than what was actually there around me. I am finding this "transition" happening more frequently as the realm of the Spirit becomes more and more real. This Creator, who knows every intricate facet of my being, is weaving a brilliant plan, all the while directing my path and leading me from one surprise to the next here in the natural.

A few days ago in another fairy-tail world deep in the Caribbean, I laid in the middle of a heli-pad on a gigantic cruise ship watching shooting stars until after midnight and talked about things I want to do that would take at least 3 lifetimes to accomplish. With the exception of the rocking of the boat, the "place" He took me felt very similar to my "streets of gold" in NYC tonight.

There is a land I live in deep in the heart of my Father where dreams come true...love explodes like a volcano with no fear or hindrance...buildings have my name on the mailbox...people come in mass to get free and get happy...creators make stuff without limit or fear...dancers use every square inch of their body to mimic the wind...stadiums are filled with sounds that wrap every person like a cocoon and leaves them no choice but to emerge with gigantic wings...daughters let their Father define the treasure they are before anyone else can tell them a lie...sons learn the art of pursuit in His Presence...mothers and fathers never grow old, but just get better and better at teaching us how to tie our shoes...and romance leaks into every thought, dream, and reality.

That is the "place" where I live and exist. Sometimes it looks like a cruise ship. Sometimes it looks like a golden street under a concrete disguise in New York City. Sometimes it is in the eyes of the one who makes you feel like a million bucks. Sometimes it is in the laughter of a friend who gets you and even in the questioning face of the one who doesn't. Sometimes it is in a yellow diamond that will someday hopefully find it's way home. Sometimes it is in the risky plan of a new friend who is crazy enough to go for really big ridiculous stuff.

This Land...This Place...This Man...This Creator...This Love...is more real to me than the chair I am sitting in. It's good. I like it. You should definitely hang out there.

The Day God Looked Like Nick

So, I am on a forever journey of learning, looking, laughing, and loving. Some days I still feel like this little blonde hair, blue eye'd toddler standing up on the front seat of my parent's car on long trips across Texas, talking incessantly and asking questions that are as bottomless as the sea. (Don't judge them...there were no laws about such things back then.) The funny thing about the questions I ask is that many of them will be forgotten in the not so far future, because it's way more about discovery in the moment for me.

On Sunday afternoon, I had the loveliest Brunch with one of my favorite people. While waiting for our table, we occupied a bench on the Upper East side and prophesied over a young mommy and her perfect baby girl. With tight hugs to complete strangers, she thanked us for the "good thoughts" and our hearts melted knowing they both had encountered REAL LOVE that would mark them forever. We went on to do typical "girl" things which usually aren't my bag, but somehow felt entirely perfect on this Mothers Day. We drank Chocolate Chai Wedding Tea, ate 3 kinds of gourmet scones among other really fattening foods, and giggled...a lot.

But what really moved me about this day and prompted my writing tonight was Nick. He just happened to be our waiter and the willing recipient of a barrage of questions that would have us feeling like family within 3 minutes. Nick literally danced in and out of our atmosphere with a smile that pulled you into his world, all the while never missing a beat keeping our plates and cups full. He had really beautiful eyes that sparkled with gold flecks as he talked about his passions and the joy he took in doing whatever it takes to make it here in the "big city." Somehow in this small space, he even found room for a glorious high kick that totally won my heart and reminded me of why I love this city so much.

Being the inquisitive "child" that I am, and being the open book that he was, I found myself getting answers way beyond what he was saying. We of course left him with an awesome tip and lots of "good thoughts" as we pulled greatness out of this MAN OF GOD and amazing Father, who just doesn't know it yet.

Later that evening as I was preparing to lead worship, all I could think about was how Nick was created in God's image. I had seen facets of God in him, that young mother, and that perfect baby girl that I would have never seen had I not met them and asked questions about their lives. As I worshiped with songs I have sung 1000 times, I saw this laughing God with gold flecks in His eyes take great delight in my questions, giving me more than I asked for, and showering me with favor, love, high kicks, and hugs.

Worship was different Sunday night. I saw New York City and the entire world in that room. I saw glimpses of the BRIDE that I had never seen. I saw facets of this awesome God and Creator who I love and adore that I hadn't seen before. It left me completely undone and took me places in His heart I hadn't gone before. That is where I have stayed since then.....undone and totally in love.

 

Amazing Sometimes Gets Even Better

I heard someone say once that they hadn't really found anything to be passionate about. That is completely CRAZY and most definitely something that would never come from these lips. Sometimes I feel like a balloon that is about to burst with just one more tiny breath of air! As I watched the Hulk begin to explode out of his "normal" at the movies last night, I kinda understood and even related a little (minus the green skin and incredible anger management issues). There is so much passion for life trapped in this little happy girl that sometimes I don't think it's actually possible to contain it!

Today, I walked the same streets I have walked many times before in NYC and watched "amazing" get even better. My heart began to attach reality to the dreams that have been spinning in my head and imagination for years. I don't actually have the keys to the buildings that will be mine, but I began to feel the floor under my bare feet, follow the curve of walls that don't conform to square rules under my fingertips, and hear the sounds of creativity vibrating from the memory of the plaster, brick, glass, and steel. I could hear laughter that would never have to be quieted or squelched. I felt the vibration of dancers pounding and painting the floor with their footprints and sweat. It is a beautiful thing. 

Today I laughed, smiled, rolled my eyes, and then laughed my head off even more with friends who can smell the fragrance of change as much as I can. This is it. This is the moment where everything changes and what was previously over the top amazing gets even better. This is the season where you reconcile with what you were always created for. This is the time where you become way more comfortable in the "unseen realm" than you are with "the facts." This is the day where you "settling" is not even remotely in your realm of thinking because you know WHOSE son or daughter you are and THAT pretty much settles it. This is the instant where your passion gets exposed and celebrated like 4th of July with the Empire State building as a backdrop. (Que "Firework" from Katy Perry) This is the split second when you EXPLODE into the millions of spectacular pieces you are and get carried away to the ends of the earth to simply be amazing and do the impossible stuff. 

This crazy, passionate, impossible dreaming, loving, laughing, and creating YOU is simply the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, experienced, and lived. I like it. I am keeping it. I am living it. I suggest you do the same.