Becoming...

Who I need to be is quite possibly not that far off. It is as though I can vaguely see it on the horizon like the dawning of the sun as it crests the landscape and illumines the silhouettes of winter's now barren trees. Provoked by knowing something better lies further down the road, I'm perplexed by how much time I've been spending in the rest area on the side of life's road. To be sure, there are others milling around here with me and perhaps we are all in the same predicament? I wonder where they are heading and wonder what they are becoming as well?

I'm not clear whether it is God's voice or my own ambition that begs me to get back on the road. There seems to be a fine line between self motivated ambition and fulfilling true Creative design. I'm guessing that even if I achieve all I think I should be, I'll still be missing the form and function the Creator desires. How much can we ever really know, anyway?

An ever increasing dependence upon the One who knows all things is where my limitations are most exposed. Frankly, I don't care much for being exposed. Far beyond the days of infantile innocence romping around in my developmental "birthday suit," mid-life acutely beckons awareness of who I am, who I'm not and what I am or am not becoming.

A strange thing is that most of us can function quite well right where we are. Continuing on as we have (perhaps for years) is apparently no major catastrophe (at least for the moment). When we allow ourselves to actually peek into that horizon though, where the sun has now fully engulfed the sky, then we are called to a reckoning of space and time. Looking into that brilliance, the realization of who we can be becomes somewhat inescapable. As surely as we can't halt the path of the sun, eventually we can't ignore the reality of who we could be. We are therefore forced to choose: either stay where I am or get back on the road.

This is when things become quite critical. A "wasted" day is now 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 waking hours less development toward my becoming. I face the reality that I can't keep living in the "rest area" and cast if off as merely a day when "I didn't do too much." It is now a day where I chose to hang out eating only junk food from vending machines and trying to wash in a sink that only provides 5 second bursts of water. There must be a better place further down the road, don't you think? Do we all really want to stay in a rest area (where most don't even have public showers, for goodness sakes!)?

So, it appears it is most appropriate for me (I can't make the decision for you) to buckle up and get back on the road. Becoming is on the horizon and from this vantage point, what remains to be seen looks rather interesting. Discipline is the call of the day. So, if you'll pardon my "blinker," that will be me merging in...

Colors

The forecast calls for 65 degrees, but today will likely bring something closer to only 60. Tonight's low will be in the high 30's resulting in an explosion of color over the next few days. True, the northern regions of the great state of Texas is no New Hampshire this time of year, but nonetheless there is still an abundance of color to be found if one is willing to look for it.

Sitting alone at one of my favorite coffee spots, the colors of the season are already presenting. Pastel interpretations of Fall's colors adorn the walls as contributed by a local elementary school. Evidently the product of a collective art assignment. Some more technically accurate than others, the diversity of all must be appreciated. How wonderful are the differences between us.

Diversity and difference brings energy to some and challenge and frustration for others. I often wonder what differentiates the two. How is it that one person can see diversity in its stark reality and embrace it as a "good thing" and next run from it like a dangerous enemy?

I'm doubtful this time of year we will find any two leafs alike. Even if we combined all the leafs of New Hampshire and north Texas together, we still would likely never find any two exactly the same and yet we find few who will argue with fall's beauty.

This season, I'm trying to learn to further embrace diversity and see things more as God must see them and certainly as He has created them. Each uniquely created and yet in accord with His image. There is beauty in diversity and difference if we are willing to look for it.

How singularly incredible God is to be the "same yesterday, today and forever" and still love with such incredible diversity. These are the colors of the season.