Being Still: God and Spain

"Be still and know that I am God."

Those words are so simple. That truth about God is so simple. I could theologically over analyze it...turn it into an analysis about the omniscience and omnipresence in His deity.

But I don't want to do that. In chaos, I just need to recognize and know this truth:

He is God. I am not.

What heights of peace do I reach just pondering this.

Catedral de Leon

 For the past week I've especially needed to continuously quiet my heart and grasp for stillness before God. Typically, after experiencing this place of peace for a while, I begin to feel restless...in the good sense. I want to travel the world, shout Jesus' beautiful name, proclaim His peace from mountain tops or whisper it quietly in a wondrously beautiful place.

Specially, Spain has been lingering in the back of my mind for quite some time now. When I was 16, the entire vocal department at my school toured Spain's mid and northern regions. Every little bit of that country surprised and delighted me. The food was literally the best I've ever tasted, Spaniards were kind and charming, the landscape was breathtakingly different than America, and everywhere that language caressed my ears with its beauty.

More importantly though, our countless concerts in cathedrals made me see an entirely different side of worshiping God. I grew up in your classic slightly charismatic, hand clapping, contemporary music swaying megachurch. The mission trips I went on happened to be in cultures who embraced this joyful worship of the Lord as well.

However, one brisk spring afternoon in Catedral de Leon, I sat in a back pew and felt surrounded by the echoes of a history of millions of prayers. Ancient Christians stared down at me with stained glass eyes as if they could empathize with how lost and far from God I felt at the time. Then, for once, I was totally still.

And I knew He is God.

Maybe my heart is restless to return to Spain so that it might be still once again.

Madrid: bull fighting schedule outside the ring

Segovian castle

Romanesque cathedral

San Maria del Mar

In front of Catedral Santiago de Compostela

Back of Catedral Santiago de Compostela

Home

Home has honestly become a rather hazy term for me. My parents were divorced when I was in high school, and then movement and change came so quickly in succession by attending college out of state. I'm not quite sure what I would call home now. 3 different houses and a slew of dorms? That's not exactly Betty Crocker's definition, I'm sure.

Therefore, how about letting home be related to happiness--to joy, peace, and serene kind of love. Let home be with people instead of buildings. Is that so wrong? Well, I hope not, because I've discovered that my home is definitely with Levi. We've been apart this summer, and I did not feel that sense of joy or of home for two months until he was with me again.

Whether we were goofily trying on hats, going to the zoo with the kids I nanny, have a peaceful dinner, making crepes, seeing the new Batman movie, watching a lightning storm on the front porch, etc everything with him was just pure joy...a serene love...home.

What a stud!

Raspberry and dark chocolate birthday cake I made him

I guess it's fitting that God has made the love of your life to be your home. Otherwise, you wouldn't long for that person with every ounce of your being. Otherwise, your heart would seek so many paths that never lead to them.


Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma and Pa, not the way that I do love you. Man o man you're my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness: there aint nothin that I need. Home, let me come home. Home is whenever I'm with you. Oh home, yes I am home. Home is wherever I'm with you. -"Home" by Edward Sharpe

Music Musings: American Rock

In honor of 4th of July let's talk about one of our country's best exports: freakin good rock n roll.

I absolutely love any type of rock--indie and classic '70's especially this summer. A good song will get stuck in your head so much that you end up singing it even when a COMPLETELY different song is on the radio. Therefore, when my favorite band Grace Potter & the Nocturnals came out with a new album, I was in love. I must share their talent with the world! They are seriously the best band I have ever seen live.

Check out their newest record "The Lion, the Beast, The Beat" :) Here's the title track:

This other song "The Divide" from the album is also just so freaking killer:

 And here's some great Heart from the '70's. My favorite song by them!

Hope your 4th of July was wonderful :)