Layovers, Flying, and People..

It’s been a beautiful and interesting day. I’ve been sitting in an airport for about four and a half hours, listening to Switchfoot, writing down my thoughts and just observing and absorbing everything and everyone around me. A blessed day.
Woke up at around 7:40 AM to a text from my friend asking if my flight was delayed! I was quite groggy due sickness and the fact that I had been unable to fall asleep until like 4… BUT I woke up and got ready, had my dad check for the flight. Everything was on time and I headed off to the airport with my dad and my little brother, who we had to drop off at his elementary school. We were a bit late, surprising right? (#IndianProblems) And so we were rushing and my dad took the wrong turn, and so he started speeding. This car was pulling out of a driveway and we didn’t see it. We almost hit it and if we had, it would’ve been really bad. My dad managed to swerve out of the way just in time. It was the closest I’ve ever been to an accident, but I saw God’s hand in keeping us safe. People tend to attribute that to luck but I don’t think I believe in luck. I think the will of God is so amazing and we can’t comprehend or accept it so we call it luck or destiny or fate or whatever other silly word we can think of.

Well, once I got to the airport, I went straight to security since I had already checked in online. Oh by the way, I’m taking the flight to Charlotte. I’m spending a couple days in North Carolina with my roommate for Spring Break. Well anyways, it was my first time on a plane by myself so it was interesting just to see how I deal with things since the last time I was on a plane was almost six years ago. It’s so interesting to me to see how much I’ve changed over the past couple years. I never really give much thought to the way we work but now that I think about it, it truly is amazing. I’ve become comfortable with the world I live in, confident and independent in the way I carry myself. And honestly, I have to thank God for where has brought me, for all the people and circumstances He has put in my life to make me the person I am right now. Now don’t get me wrong, I am nowhere near perfect but at the same time, much has changed. I’ve changed in a lot of good ways and in many bad ways as well. People tend to shy away from the bad changes but honestly, isn’t that part of life? Although quite cliché, we are human. And as someone once told me, “you can’t have the good without the bad”. But through it all, I believe God deserves the glory!

Back to my story, I got on the plane; it wasn’t too long of a wait and I was lucky enough to get the window seat and I could see the wing in front of me from where I was sitting! I am honestly fascinated by planes and the very idea of flying. It’s such a wonderful feat. How is it that this huge metal alloy vehicle that probably weighs tens of thousands of pounds by itself can carry about fifty people like 30,000 feet in the air? It just blows my mind. My favorite parts of the flight are taking off and when the pilot turns the plane. The feeling you get when you see and feel the plane turning and tilting is just plane (I’m so punny) sick. Takeoff is just like a huge roller coaster (I LOVE roller coasters!) and the feeling you get when you just see the ground fall away beneath you is surreal! I took off from Newark International and it was quiet cloudy and dreary, we ascended right into clouds so everything was white around me. (Reminded me of this past summer when we were surrounded by clouds on top of Mt. Algonquin in the Adirondacks of upstate NY *nostalgia*.) I looked away from the window for about a minute and I look back and BOOM, quite possibly one of the most majestic sights ever: the plane was completely above the clouds and there was nothing but clear. BEAUTIFUL. blue sky (for those of you who don’t really know me that well, a clear blue sky is one of my favorite sights in the world) and all I could see of the plane was the wing. So, of course, I took a picture with intention of Instagramming it :) I then continued to watch out the window, awestruck at God’s creation. It’s a whole different perspective from up there. What an amazing world we live in, and to think that God spoke the universe into being…wow, there are truly no words to explain the awe of such a reality. Being on a plane also literally and figuratively separates you from the rest of the world. It gives you time to think and contemplate and be still.

Well I landed at Charlotte at exactly 12:03 PM. The flight was on time and it did not feel like an hour and a half at all. *Quick context: I’m staying at my roommate’s house and there are three of us besides him going. All of us took different flights and mine got here first. My roommate’s flight got delayed so he isn’t going to get here until like 7PM so I have plenty of free time.* so first thing I did was called mom and dad to let them know I got here safely. Then I proceeded to walk around the airport for about twenty five minutes, just taking in all the sights and sounds, checking out the different food places and the general setting of the airport. It is a really nice airport. I am currently sitting on a white rocking chair under a small, shady tree, looking out, through a large completely-windowed wall, at all the aircrafts landing, taxi-ing, docking, and taking off, and also, there’s a moving sidewalk between me and the window-wall so I’m people watching as well. I’ve probably seen more than a hundred people walk by of different sizes and shapes and colors. It’s so interesting watch their facial expressions and their demeanor in general. So many are rushing, worrying, scrapping for time and so far I’ve seen only two people just enjoy the sights around them and take their time. One was a very old, kind-looking man and the other was a blonde little boy. The old man was wearing a very nice brown jacket with those patches on the elbows and he had his hand on the handles(?) as he let the moving sidewalk carry him slowly. I don’t think he could’ve rushed if he wanted to because his body wouldn’t have let him but still he wasn’t grumpy. He had a small smile on his face that you couldn’t notice unless you actually looked at him. It’s always an encouragement for me to see people like him because I feel they have been through much in life and have learned the importance of appreciating life as it is. And then there was the little boy, he was having the time of his life on the moving sidewalk, it was obvious he was quite fascinated by it, he had both his arms stretched out on either side and was just smiling with glee. I love children. They are always so happy and find the smallest things to be so fascinating and they are such a great reminder that no matter what, there’s always something to smile about. And finally, there is the lady who took my order today. She just emanated joy and she asked me what I wanted with a smile. I love people like her, people who, no matter where they are in life, live with a smile and joy. You see, unlike these three people I pointed out, most of us are constantly worrying about something we forgot, something we have to do, a meeting (or in this case, a plane) we’re late for. We don’t have time to look at the world around us that is waiting for us to notice and to make us smile; we don’t have time to breathe and to live. We simply exist. I am definitely one of those people even though I’d like to be someone who lives. Frankly, I am SICK and TIRED of just existing, I want to LIVE, to the FULLEST, and only Jesus Christ offers that kind of life. And some of you are probably thinking, there he goes with Jesus again. But really though, when is the last time the world offered you satisfaction and fulfillment and actually came through except MAYBE for a temporary period of time. Yes, it’s incredibly hard to follow Him, to give up all control and all desires, but He promises satisfaction and fulfillment. He gave up being God for you and me. He became a MAN for you and me. He lived the perfect life for you and me. He DIED for YOU and ME. He died a CRUEL, SHAMEFUL, UNFAIR, painful death. In the words of Isaiah 52:14

His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness

…marred beyond human likeness. Wow. I can’t even IMAGINE what that means. The Cross is the most powerful picture and REALITY of the LOVE of God for his creation, us humans. So when Christ offers me life to the fullest, I’ll take it from him. It’s time to give it up to Him and stop acting like we have it all under control because well, we don’t.
So really, take a minute. Breathe. Think. Let go of all that is holding you down. Give it up to the God who is waiting to help you. I promise you two things: it’ll be the hardest thing you ever do but it will most definitely also be the MOST satisfying choice ever.


“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
- Ephesians 5:14


He’s waiting with arms WIDE open.
“We were meant to live for SO much more, but we’ve lost ourselves.”

Just Surrender

Life is hard and I know you're trying
You wear a smile but inside you're crying
When will you admit, you'll never make it on your own
You build the walls up all around you
To protect you from the hurt you've been through
I'm the only one who can bring the walls to the ground

Lay down your defenses, put your trust in Me

I can heal your heart
I can comfort you
Don't resist my love
Just surrender
I see your scars
and I feel your fear
Let me rescue you
Just Surrender, Just Surrender

You keep denying my advances
But you'll never be out of chances
My love will follow you no matter how far you run
Let me show you what you can be
what it's like to live this life free
Will you take my hand and let me lead you my child

Lay down your defenses, put your trust in Me

I can heal your heart
I can comfort you
Don't resist my love
Just surrender
I see your scars
and I feel your fear
Let me rescue you
Just Surrender, Just Surrender

Open up your heart and let me in
There's nothing left to fear



It's amazing how accurately this song speaks to my life. Im sure that im not the only one whose heart just resonates with these words and cant help but feel a taste of that freedom that is promised. I feel like so many times, as Christians and as people, we always see God as this powerful being who is going to punish you for failing to obey Him. And so, when we fall, we, like Adam and Eve, hide away from God because we are ashamed. We shut Him off and try to stay away from anything that will remind us of Him. Why? because we believe the lie that God's love towards us is dependent on our obedience of his commands or the depth of our faith. This is one of the biggest and most widely accepted lies that exist in the world. It makes sense though right? I mean doesn't it make sense for Him to punish us? why would God ever love us when we do everything against Him? Because He is God. Some of you are probably thinking, what does that even mean? So what? Here is another perspective, HE is not human. Human love is dependent on the circumstance and the person. Our love is ever changing. But God's love is constant. It never changes. God doesn't love us because of who we are or what we have done, He loves us because of who HE is. That, to me, is one of the most comforting aspects of my existence. The fact there is an ALL-POWERFUL being who will love me no matter what I do. Does that mean I can just do whatever I want because he loves me? No, I would only be acting in contempt to His love. BUT, I am human. I do fall. God knows that and so He sent his Son to die so that I could have LIFE. But so many times, I find that I run back to the chains of my sin. And that is why I posted this song, because I hear God speaking to me through it. I hear him say, "You keep denying my advances, but you'll never be out of chances. My love will follow you no matter how far you run. Let me show you what you can be,what it's like to live this life free. Will you take my hand and let me lead you my child?" There is a joy in my heart that I cannot describe. Joy that He still gives me second chances, that He will ALWAYS love me. I am reassured.

Thank you Lord for the great love with which you love me. Undeserving as I am. Lord, take me and use me. I surrender.

My Plea

June 24, 2012 Lord, you know the state of my heart and my faith. I do but at the same time I don't. I'm so lost and confused. I have run away from you and chased after the world. I was disappointed and discouraged because of what I saw around me. Now that I look back, I have probably sinned just as much or worse. I wasn't dwelling in your Word and that is why Satan was able to attack me so easily. I had no defense or offense(against him). I was proud. I chose to trust myself instead of you and then I blamed you for everything that went wrong. God, what a fool am I? I've lost the love you instilled in me. Lord, my prayer for this summer is that you break me and truly humble me, completely. Deeply impress on me the Power of your Word and that of Prayer. Teach me what it means to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Lord, you have been so faithful to me, so gracious. I am undeserving. To think that you sent your ONLY Son to DIE on the cross for ME after KNOWING that I would turn my back on YOU? That's amazing. Help me not to lose sight of my ultimate purpose. Thank You. ...the first entry in my Guide journal. Anyone who knows me somewhat well, knows about Deerfoot Lodge. I'm always talking about that place. Well I had the opportunity to be a part of a summer long, counselor training program called the Guide program. It lasted from June 23rd to August 18th. 8 weeks. 20 guys and 4 leaders. Countless experiences. One amazing summer of growth and change. Well, it was the first Sunday of the summer, and all twenty of us were given a red, hardcover journal about the size of a novel with our names on it. It's a treasured possession of mine. I figured I should start off with what I want to get out of my summer at Deerfoot. And now, four months later, when I read this prayer. I cant help but marvel at how beautifully God answered this prayer. He truly is a God who cares and apart from Him there is no satisfaction.

The Beginning

I created this blog like two years ago but I never really posted anything on it. I remember my reason for creating this blog was because I noticed that some people were creating blogs and they seemed to be getting a lot of attention and I craved that attention. Shallow? you bet. That is who I was. Let's be real though, aren't we all, in a way, yearning for attention? searching for something more? But things have changed since then, a lot. I'm not creating this blog so people like me or give me attention. This is simply a way for me to think, to make sense of things that have happened. To ponder life. To change lives, to give hope, to show love, to tell my story. The story of how the Great King affected my life. So if you like it, keep reading. If you don't, that's okay too. I must make it very clear that this blog will be what some label as 'christian'. I believe that it's not just a religion. It is something much greater. In fact, I believe that Jesus Christ influences and is the center of everything in the world. So check out what I have to say. It's a blog about life, about God, about an average guy who deals with and looks at life in a not so average way, just trying to find his place in the world.