Out of the Wilderness

Those words mean so much, don’t they? Another couple has decided, for whatever reason, to go through life together. It’s pretty awesome, especially when it’s a perfect match.

OK, OK, I need to ask for your hand in marriage forgiveness because the title of this post is completely misleading. I, Ben, the writer, am not engaged.

*collective sigh*

*frown* (my parents)

*howl* (my dogs, knowing they still have my full attention)

I do hope to be engaged and married at some point in my future. In my past, though, you can count on one hand the relationships I’ve had that were even a possibility. Of those relationships, I wonder about one particular girl, and how she’s doing. We ended badly and I’ve had to sort through my own stuff because of that but we’ve both moved on and are hopefully better for it. But I know one day I’ll get the news she’s engaged.

“Hey, Ben. Did you hear about ***? She’s engaged!”

“May blessings rain down on her and her lovely fiancé,” I’d say.

I wasn’t always as wise, mature, enlightened, and kind as I am now *sarcasm* but there was a time hearing about her engagement would have probably devastated me.

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I would’ve thought, “She won.”

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But now, no. It’s not a competition. We weren’t, and aren’t, literally racing to the alter. Although the competitive side of me now wants to race someone. Hmmm. Before I get totally sidetracked, I’ll wrap this up.

I hope she finds the guy that’s a perfect fit for her. I hope she gets engaged. I hope she gets married. When I hear the news, I’m envisioning that my heart will be happy for her. That’s what I pray for anyway. That God has so changed my own heart that where I once was bitter and competitive, I’m now at peace.

One day a guy will balance the sun on his knee, and she’ll give herself a high five, and I’ll think, “Crap! She DID win!” “That’s pretty awesome.”

 

-Out of the Wilderness

He shut the door of his car and walked toward the bank. There were a handful of people inside who had no idea what was about to happen. The mysterious man walked through the first set of double doors, then the second. He was a man on a mission, and nothing would get in his way. It was about 930am and the reason I know that is because I had an appointment scheduled at that very bank at that very time.

The man was subtle about his mission. He walked inside, looked around, then did what he came there to do. Before you go calling the cops or Googling bank robberies in Nashville, I’ll confess the man in this story was me. And I was there to talk to an investment banker about my money’s future. Nothing mysterious about that at all! In fact, it’s downright #adultlife. But there’s another gentleman that works for the bank who was there also. I met him last fall and afterwards, left feeling so encouraged. Back then, we chatted about a lot of things including our faith in God.

So when I saw him this time I asked if he had any wisdom he could pass along and he shared this with me, “Trust God, even when you can’t trace Him.” Again, I left very encouraged. The Christian life can sometimes get complicated (or seem complicated) but it’s so important to remember that it’s really not that complicated at all.

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. That’s it. Do this, and everything else will take care of itself. He’s got a plan, and we can trust Him with our lives.

Hope you’re having a great June out there!

-Out of the Wilderness

Home is where the heart is.

That famous phrase rang true last week as I was able to spend time with my family in Florida over the Memorial Day weekend. To tell you the truth, my heart is divided. Half in Nashville, and half wherever my family is.

Another popular phrase that applies?

I need a vacation from my vacation.

Usually when I return to Nashville after these vacations I’m exhausted, sleepy, hungry, and in need of some good ol’ R&R. It’s ironic that the reason I left Nashville was for some good ol’ R&R! But when you’re the self-proclaimed favorite fun uncle, there’s not much time for rest. I have 7 nieces and a nephew and was so blessed to see all of them in Florida this particular trip. The activities revolved around beach-y, ocean-y things, which we all enjoy for the most part. Except when you get hurled off a tube traveling at 57 mph. How do I know the tube was traveling that fast? My smart brother-in-law (he’s an engineer, as you’d guess after I say the next part of this sentence) figured out the speed using formulas and graphs and trajectories and diagrams. He tried ambitiously to explain it to my sister and I but he lost us at “So this graph here…” If there were three things I wasn’t really ever good at, it was math.

These trips always seem to end way too soon. But there were long days under a warm sun, beautiful starry nights, lots of laughing, and good naps.And yes, I have pink toe nails. Price I gotta pay to keep on bein’ the fun uncle!

-Out of the Wilderness

You’re so pale. How pale? Even Nicole Kidman said you need some color.

That guy in your office is looking more and more like a coconut every day.

You sprinkle salt in your Speedo to remind yourself what chafing feels like.

Hit the beach before Trump puts a wall around it to keep you out!

Hit the beach before Bernie Sanders gives it away to people who are less beachy.

Hit the beach before Hillary says “beach rights are human rights!” and kicks you off for walking all over it.

At the beach, you might, you might, be able to have a few minutes without hearing something about the 2016 election.

This.

Your name is not Chuck Noland. Or Wilson.

You’re eagerly anticipating the premiere of The Bachelorette just to see which tropical beaches they make-out on.

Your tan clearly ends just above your elbow, or just above your knee.

You’ve been taping Kroger’s entirely-too-long receipts together to make a beach towel.

Check out more signs here!

-Out of the Wilderness