brown...and white

This season is amazing.

I love the changes of spring - and growth, the budding, the flowers (not so much the allergies...)

The other day my family was driving in the country, bumping along undoubtedly somewhat faster than many (because my wife was driving) in our domestic minivan.  Having conversation about their day and life - annoying each other and catching up - encouraging each other and pestering each other - like families do.

They came upon a clearing, looking across the open fields, they saw a tree line so typical of spring.

Brown - stick trees with their leaves long gone from last years fall, some with leaves clinging to their branches as if they might not make it if the last of the leaves fall.  A tree line of brown - like a dreary lighthouse signaling the dormancy and sleepiness and even the death and decay of winter.

And there in the middle of the brown - surrounded - a blossoming Bradford Pear tree.  Awash in its glaringly white blooms - a contrast of life and newness and brightness - as if to scream, "Goodness is here!  Decay is only part of the story - death is only a piece of this world!!"

Looking at that tree line - you might become convinced that death and decay and brown is winning - but we all know that if we revisit the tree line in another week or two or three, that those brown trees will all have new buds and baby leaves - stretching out from their limbs and that life will have spread from the white of the pear tree up and down the line - and in a month or so beautiful green leaves will be there - oozing the wonder of oxygen for us!


You know, I look around me in this world - and I see a lot of brown.  It's hard not to.

In real people
                 I see
                     cancer
                          and heart failure. 
             I see grieving
                          and pain and hurt. 
         I see divorce
              and abandonment

In my culture I see decay in politics

And brown death in terrorism - bombs and suicides


And I have to admit sometimes I feel as if the brown is winning...

I look at the tree line of my world and my heart aches for anything alive.


Then when I look differently.  When I notice.  When I see the small, true, good, pear trees.  I realize that it is not the brown that is winning - and it is not the brown that is even the important part to notice. 

I see the white blossoms of people caring.

I see the white blossoms of the love in people's hearts.

I see the pear trees of faithful moms and dads and families.

I see the life of the warm sun and the painted sunrises.

I see the bursting life of people's lives changing for the better - letting go of addictions and hurts and losses and pains and habits and selfishness and bitterness - in favor of tenderness and freedom and love and peace and hope for...

spring to come.


This is More than more.

The world is brown - you would have to be an idiot to not see it. 

But we at More than more...

we see the blossoms -
                we notice -
                     we choose to -
                          we learn to -
                              we encourage each other to and
                                           we work hard to infect those spring blossoms
                                            wherever we find the decaying brown of this world


So,

If you take a look at the tree line of this world today and you see the brown death of winter - don't be fooled to believe that it is winning.  There is life.  I encourage you to look for it.  See it. 
                                                                                        In the simple - in the good. 
But even more,

Be it. 
Be the good. 

Blossom in your life.  Focus your life on the things that matter.  Be thankful to the amazing God who made the goodness not in the policies and economies, but in the heartbeat in your chest.

And if you would like to hang out with some people who are on that path - who are done with the usual get more, buy more, become more philosophies of this world that only bring death and decay,
we would love to have you join us - we hang out every other Thursday night at McAllister Recreation Center - Just off 20th and Schuyler Ave - Lafayette - from 645-800pm.  The next time we will be together will be April 14th.  Hope you can make it.

More than more tonight!! And outreach in 2wks!! Save the 31st date!!

reminding you that tonight is More than more at McAllister Recreation Center, Lafayette, from 645-800 - as always there will be free childcare and it will be a fantastic time!!

Also, please remember to save the date for the next Mtm, the 31st of March, 630pm - we will not be at McAllister  - we will be meeting at Murdock Elementary for Taco night dinner and helping some of the folks there to have shoes for their families - if you want to help with food, please text Melissa, or comment on this post

hoping to see you there!

Tomorrow night

We will be hanging out tomorrow night, the 3rd of March, from 645-800pm at McAllister Recreation Center for More than more.  Wanted to remind everyone!  Hope to see you there!