An Evening Between Headphones

It's been way too long since I've just sat with headphones and cranked music. (I am currently sitting with headphones and cranking music.) I used to spend a lot more time with music. Listening to it, playing it, writing it. Since I've been here, music has taken a back seat ride. I think there are a lot of reasons for that. One, my ipod died. Two, my old computer went crazy on me and it made it difficult to listen to music. Three, my entire itunes library disappeared from existence early last semester, also making it very difficult to listen to music. Four, I felt a need to spend time with people and not be consumed by distractions. I think God did me a favor by creating those obstacles this year. It would be rather regrettable to be a part of this kind of community and waste it between a pair of headphones. Of course, music is not completely removed from me. I am doing a fair bit of worship leading. But for some reason there is a difference in musics between worship and music that I enjoy. That sounds harsh, as if I don't enjoy worship music, which is not true. Leading worship and singing songs to worship God is beautiful and something that I never want to undermine or relinquish. It's wonderful and necessary. Some might find it appropriate to attempt to combine worship and the music that I enjoy. Maybe those two could meet in some beautiful harmony. Maybe. That might be great. I haven't really given that a whole lot of attention. Right now I just miss they way music used to fit in my life before this year. Having said that, I in no way regret the distance I have had from it for this time.

This past weekend we all went over to Vancouver for a thing called Missions Fest. It's an annual event that has numerous seminars all related in some way to missions. Also there were loads of booths from all kinds of mission organizations, colleges, and other ministry groups. It was encouraging to talk with people who are devoted to serving God in such a wide variety of ways. There were quite a few people from Kaleo that were impacted in a pretty cool ways through this trip. It brought focus and direction to many people as well as opened doors to a whole slew of ministries to potentially be involved with. If I'm honest though, I didn't have any immediate/significant things happen to me personally - outside of a honest joy I found for other people who were being impacted. I was really happy to see that.

Recently I've been thinking about going to Briercrest to finish my degree. (Briercrest is the college that Kaleo is associated with.) Prior to the past couple weeks, the idea of going to Briercrest never even entered my mind in a remotely probable way. It's a small, Christian college in nowhere Saskatchewan. There is nothing attractive about this school, and suddenly I can't get it out of my head. I really enjoy traveling to new places, but this is honestly one of the last places I would choose to go. Granted, I've been living in one of the most beautiful places in North America for the better part of a year. So, maybe I need a little Saskatchewan to balance things out. Of course, nothing is for sure. This is simply where I'm headed unless God redirects.

Today there was a mouse in the lodge. We managed to corner him and eventually capture him under a metal container. Then somehow we managed to transfer him to a larger container where we could watch him run. Eventually the tree hugging BC people made us let him go. Just kidding... no I'm not. This took up at least twenty minutes of the day.

This week has been franticly busy with class, group projects, homework, and everyday life. However, tonight is one of those nights that I decided I can ignore the rush. So I should really get back to that. It's turning out to be a beautiful evening between headphones.

Goodbye.