The Fish Tank

Jackson came home from school seeming a little down and out. We always talk about his day but today I had to do a little more digging. He eventually told me why he was bummed. Two boys from his class set their lunch boxes up to keep Jack out. They told him he was an outsider because he was not on the inside of the little fortress they built. My heart was sad for my boy but we talked through it and just like that, all was well with is soul once again. We can giggle a little about the silliness of elementary school antics. But, I wonder how often we feel like Jack; an outsider who doesn't fit in to the current mold, standard, or place. I have had numerous conversations lately with different people who do not feel connected to our church. We are a large church: one church, three locations. Our pastor preaches at one campus and his message is broadcast to the other two. Thousands of people walk thru the doors of our church each weekend. It is easy to feel lost, disconnected, and like...

We talked on FaceTime for almost two hours. We compared gray hairs and the size of the bags under our eyes as only friends of 20+ years can do. We laughed and joked about things that only make sense to the two of us. We said our I love yous exhausted from talking well past our bed times. I hung up feeling refreshed, encouraged, and reenergized in a way that only she knows how to bring out in me. You see, yesterday was my birthday. And if I am honest and take off the mask of "everything is fantastic" I can say it sucked. I woke up with low expectations. I knew I'd have a quiet day since Scott had an overnight trip he couldn't get out of. He felt awful for leaving before I woke up but such is life. Life doesn't stop because it's someone's birthday and I get that. I woke up and walked to the kitchen as I always do. I passed the dining room table that has become Lego central. The moment I walked by, my oil and water-type boys start bickering. I sighed annoye...