Hope

"Sure Shimai, you 'heard it from the Lord,' whatever you say, old friend.  Let's just finish cleaning off this altar.  I wish you'd just focus on doing what we know we need to do; our duties!  Why should we ever think beyond that?  The Almighty has enough to worry about without adding our little day-to-day concerns.  Don't you think?"

Today, during a couple hours where our kids were well cared for, my wife and I stole some time together to share breakfast and talk about the stuff of life, love and our amazing God.  We had the rare opportunity to sit and talk under a beautiful canopy of oak, maple and shagbark hickory trees.  What a time we had!  The sun was high and the light played off the leaves in a beautiful visual symphony.  That didn't last long, though. The sitting, I mean. 

     Limburger cheese, spoiled milk, your baby's diapers, garbage cans, yuck!  Some things just stink!  Isn't it amazing how certain smells can evoke such a strong response?  At the same time, certain scents can trigger memories or even bring certain emotions.  Smells are a part of life.  When was the last time you smelled something legitimately new?  You know, NEW, as in: I never knew this smell existed!  And when was the last time you caught a whiff of something that was new and good?  If you're like me, it doesn't happ