There and Back Again

I went to church for the first time in a year a week ago (and managed to get my butt out of bed to go this past week too; woot for two times in a row). The speaker was a former football player and talked about trust. How we trust in God and have that assurance that He will be there for us, keep us safe, etc.

He used a story from his life. He was on his way to his first day of work as a chaplain for a football team. This was a team he idolized growing up. He had his son with him and on his way in he noticed that his gas was pretty low. He had enough to get there but would need to stop on the way home otherwise he wouldn't make it.

Being nervous, excited, and running a little late he put off getting gas for the return trip and it wasn't until he hit a stretch of construction that he noticed the gas light turn on. It was this piece of highway that also told him that there would be no exits for the next 10 miles. As he put everything together he started to panic. And it was about this time when he heard this sound coming the passenger seat. He became aggravated that his son could be so involved with his own business and cares to not notice the situation in front of them. He was about to lash out at his son when he heard someone speaking to him (for those who don't understand this, it would be that little voice in the back of your head, some call it God and/or a conscience). It said that his son trusted his father to get him from point A to B safely and without problems. His son trusted his father, did he trust his Father?

This example resonated with me. Occasionally I find myself traveling with a friend (specifically a woman in this instance). I am comforted to know that they trust me and feel safe in my presence that they can sleep; knowing that I will deliver them to our destination without incident.

More-so this thought carries over to when I get married and I am traveling with my wife. It is a feeling/situation that I am excited and anxious to experience; to travel with my wife, see her sleeping as we travel down the road, and know that she trusts me to get us to where we need to be. (I guess this could all be metaphorical too but for right now I'll mean it a little more literal.)

I meet her on a mission trip back when I was in high school. I'm not really sure how our friendship developed. Regardless of how that happened I can honestly say that through her I have meet several wonderful friends and have had the opportunity to be a part of her life. I have been so blessed to know her and love spending time with her and her husband.

I was in college still when I began to "hang out" with her a lot. I was introduced to Jars of Clay in High School (they were the 2nd CD I bought) and really started to enjoy them in college. I bought "If I Left the Zoo" and it came with an EP called "The White Elephant Sessions." While the majority of songs were different versions of songs from their release album there were a few songs that didn't make the cut. One of those songs was "Fly Farther." Again a slow, melancholy song.

I imagine the song being sung at the end of someone's life. They are remembering all that has transpired in their life, their loved ones, spouse, family, and seeing how far they came from where they started.

I haven't listened to this song for years (at least until today when I let it play in the background as I typed). I still remember buying the CD (or burning it) and leaving it for her as a birthday/Christmas present.

Here There Be Dragons

I dreamt about her lastnight. We were like two ships passing each other in the fog. I was walking out, she was walking in. I don't think she noticed me. I tried to pretend I hadn't noticed her, while all too overtly casting a longing glance towards her.

I haven't decided on a song for her yet. There are so many that have come to me recently that I have been unable to discern which one I associated with her. So I will bore you with the tale of another person.

I have only known her for a couple of years. I thought she was cute and we shared similar interests for a period of time. I even bucked up the courage to ask her out once... or twice. The performance was fast approaching (read the next day) and I asked if she would like to go with me. She had made plans to attend with others. Ready to commit to this pursuit, I saw her that evening and asked if she had dinner yet. She did have dinner and was intending to spend the rest of the evening with friends.

I consider this asking her out one and a half times. Word eventually came back to me through a third-party that she knew I was interested in her, but she was not interested in me. (I believe the statement was "this guy won't stop asking me out.")

I had just started listening to Counting Crows again and the flatmate introduced me to "Hard Candy." This is a fantastic CD. There were many songs that really stuck out to me but one I could not shake from my mind. Good Times just had this smooth groove that resonated with me. The tune, lyrics, and sound all probably contributed to me enjoying the song. It might have a lot to do with him mentioning something about redhead girls too. I can't really be sure.

I still love the song. It's become a "favorite." (Favorite here is a very lose term as there are usually 2-3 songs from each CD I own that are my favorites. Combine those favorites with favorites from a couple hundred CD's and you realize that I can easily have a couple hundred "favorites.") While my "crush" on her has been smothered (might have something to do with her getting married) I still remember fondly those couple months were I would let this song play on those spring, summer, and fall evenings. I'd drive with the windows down and just let the smooth rhythm play.