So today marks the first day of my tenth year as Sarah Jane’s husband. It’s amazing really when you consider that the selfish, immature, unwise 22-year old version of me actually choose such an amazing person to be his life-long spouse. I wonder what good choices the hopelessly selfish, only slightly more mature, still unwise, 32 year-old me is making today? If for no other reason than because this amazing woman deserves everything, I hope I’m doing at least a few things right.

So on the occassion of our ninth anniversary (which by the way is symbolized by pottery or leather - hmmm…no comment) I present this humble list in appreciation of my wonderful wife and best friend…

Nine reasons to love this girl…

1. Sarah loves people - she believes in the potential of anyone (probably what makes her such a great teacher, friend, and mentor).
2. Sarah helps me get out of bed in the morning - ask my parents, this is not an easy task.
3. Sarah is an amazing mother - from the moment we first saw the (first) plus-sign on the pee stick, she has been making tremendous sacrifices for the sake of our children.
4. Sarah is my partner - it hardly manners what we are doing, it is so much better when we are doing it together.
5. Sarah enjoys learning - she will share with me what she is getting out of a book or seminar and get so much more out of it than I would have if I’d read it myself.
6. Sarah is a great daughter - respectful, caring, concerned, involved… she really loves her family well… in-laws too!
7. Sarah believes in God - her love for him and desire to walk in truth inspires others (especially me) to pray, love, live…
8. Sarah takes care of our home - even the parts of “home managment” that she dislikes (cooking, maybe?) she does well.
9. Sarah is funny - as much as I love to tease her by not laughing at her witty comments, she has an incredible sense of humor, even in the middle of hard times.

Unfortunately, I didn’t even get to how beautiful she is…

Happy Anniversary Sarah Jane. I love being your husband. I loveYOU.

Metanoia,
Aaron

So, at a conference and loving the learning. Conferences are generally good to me - chance to get away, reflect, eat (more than I ought), reconnect with teammates, and dream. For some reason, these last two days have been particularly nurishing and encouraging.

One seminar today was particularly satisfying. No, it was more than satisfying, it was… well, read on. The topic was “Student Culture: promoting faithful, academic subcultures.” Not exactly a title that draws you in, but something that caught me, somehow. In retrospect, I think I was summoned to this one.

The facilitator was a passionate, somewhat subversive educator who spoke as if he were about to burst - from excitement, or pent-up knowledge, or frustration - it was hard to tell. He delivered unrehearsed content as if we were preparing for a revolution. All the while, I’m writing down as much as I possibly can, keeping my head down to hide the silly grin I couldn’t remove from my face. I felt like each of us in the room was privleged to be there, to be hearing and learning what we were learning.

So, what did he say?

…I can’t tell you.

All I can say is  that the proverbial lightbulbs were causing a power surge they were illuminating so rapidly. As I’m listening to this one, incidental, 50-minute, unpolished presentation great connections were being made all over the place. I suddenly understood things - big, important things, like:

my life experiences
my frustrations
my education
my giftings
my career
my call
His Call

It was as if the clouds were breaking and those long awaited beams of sun were bursting through. It was an experience of clarity.

But I still can’t tell you what it is.

A learning moment like I experienced today must be pondered, tested, incubated, studied, prayed over, processed, “tried-on.” So, despite my temptations to make declarations and draw hasty conclusions, I decided to only post about my emotional response, gratitude, and gladness.

There is wind in my sails, there is an awareness of the Caller, there is fullness and peace in my soul. I don’t usually write so, (what’s the word?) “poetically?”- but I don’t know what else to say.

In rereading what I’ve already said, I must also confess that there is also a temptation in me to go back and soften my words in this post - to be careful not to blow an “ahHaa moment” out of proportion. But I know I shouldn’t.  In fact, at the same time as I am rereading what I’ve written, I have been twice startled by loud bursts of thunder that are shaking this dormatory. So, tonight I choose to belive that God is teaching me something special, that this was more than a simple seminar at a mid-size conference in the middle of Ohio.

I subtly recognize this experience as what we call “awakening.” I’m sorry if you’ve read all of this and are frustrated by my vagueness, but I don’t feel like I can share - or even put into words - what I’m being awakened to…

Not yet.

Metanoia,
Aaron

Here at Cedarville University at the ACSD National Conference…

Yesterday, our time at C-ville began with a pre-conference with Kelly Monroe Kullberg editor of the book “Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians” and author of “Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas.” It was a decent seminar/workshop for the content it provided, but I was more struck by the words this woman used as she spoke about her God and her faith.

Have you ever spent time with someone and walked away knowing that you were in the presence of a holy person? Someone who doesn’t have to say they are a Christian, but who talks about God in such a way that there is no question that they walk with him? Yesterday I had that privlege.

When I shared with my team last night about the preconference I talked nonstop for at least 15 minutes, so I won’t even try to type a synopsis here. Instead, here are just a few of the phrases she shared that impacted me enough to write them down…

• The cross is our way of life
• A liberal education is an inferior education
• People want to live in the larger story
• There is good pluralism - a confidence in truth that allows anyone to engage the deeper questions
• I want to be an advocate for the legitimacy of those questions
• We need a robust Christian episomology
• In need of the habit of mercy
• We need to move beyond critique of the world’s abhorrations
• We have been grafted into the tree of life
• The gospel is true on the far side of complexity
• God’s voice isn’t always the loudest voice - he is a gentleman, and won’t always interrupt
• Vulnerability begets vulnerability
• Abide in the true vine

I am thankful for the opportunities I have had in life to spend time in the presence of godly people, “saints.” Their walk - and their talk - has inspired me with a vision of what it means to “abide in the true vine.”

Metanoia,
Aaron

It was a beautiful weekend in Winona Lake, Indiana.

It’s weekends like these that make me a thankful person.

Good weather.
Good friends.
Good family.
Good health.

Basic rundown… Had a short work week - only came in three days this week, but for some reason I felt more productive than in previous weeks. Friday night was relaxing as Sarah and I spent the evening catching up on our days, playing cards, and reading in bed. Saturday we spent the day with our beloved friends the Brahams and the Dunlevys. It was great. I was embarrassed to realize I haven’t seen Chad and Becca since LAST SEPTEMBER. So, it was really good to catch up. After we went home, I mowed the lawn.  For some reasons, my allergies have not bothered me yet this summer.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  This morning the whole family slept until 8, we got up went to worship with our church family, and enjoyed a relaxed church picnic.  Now I’m getting some things done at work while the family naps.

I’m heading off to the ACSD National Conference at Cedarville University tomorrow through Wednesday.  I’m the type of person who loves learning through conferences - back to back sessions, cheesy giveaways, handouts, powerpoints, book tables, nametags… I love it.  Haven’t been to a conference since October so I’m looking forward to it.  If I get a chance, I’ll post about some of what I’m thinking and learning while I’m there.

The other news from the weekend is that Sarah and I are looking at purchasing a minivan. It seems it’s just not going to be feasible (or legal, or advisable) to fit our whole family into our 1995 Mazda 626 going on 180,000 miles. So, we’re joining the ranks of the “mini-vaned.” We’re looking at a used one this evening that is being privately sold. I feel most incompetant as an “adult” when considering these large purchases. I just want my dad to fly in and make these decisions for me. Ugh… maturity.

Metanoia,
Aaron

120lb Challenge update…
Total (team) weight loss: 22   Personal weight loss: 7