those people of mine

I want to remember this moment. 

the fire burning inside of me that is unable to escape and will stay for the rest of my days.

the fire next to me, burning the rose of my cheeks.

being in love.

Danny scraping off my car this morning

and I love to hold him, not necessarily his body but, hold him in my heart

and I love wanting him there.

unsure and yet sure of the future

I smile at the future

not because something has incredibly shifted in me to show me that the future is set up or stable

but because I have no idea about the future

but something has incredibly shifted in me

and that is that I have GOD to stand on

and HE allows me to smile

with sureness about the future.

I see God in Daniel.

I love him without fear.

I love him

I love him 

I love Him.

I smile at Brooke.

there is peace in the upstairs

an aroma of love and gentleness

I know I can invade her space and it will not be invading

but welcoming

we belong together

not just for now

but even in a year from now when she lives in Madison (hmm)

and in a thousand years when we are singing together in heaven

I like to think about that.

and I love Brooke.

I see God in her.

I smile at Micheal 

who I am sure, is singing somewhere

even though I am not sure he is singing

I am sure.

His heart is singing. I smile at his smiling

which is insistent and consistent.

I see God in Him.

I smile at Tony and Jenn

who have a quiet powerful life

feet stuck, literally STUCK in JESUS CHrist

their roots go deep

and it breathes life onto those of us who sit under their branches

and I watch the way Tony strokes Lily's head and

I can almost imagine God stroking my head like that

because the most beautiful Father-ness in the world

does not even compare to the love of my FATHER

who is laughing and smiling and approving of me in heaven

REJOICING Jumping out of his skin about me in heaven

telling me I do not have to be perfect

but if I love His law

he will lead me

into

peace.

I smile at Jenn

who is direct and lovely and kind and fierce

and bold

and unafraid to make mistakes and talk about them

and also of her redemption in the same breath

God has made her a flame

literally

a flame in this neighborhood

everyone knows Jenn

even drunk homeless searching Dave L

people can be scared of the truth from her lips

or receive it

it is hard and healing and nuturing and lovely

and I see God in her.