I stopped to think this afternoon while I was shoveling some bricks into the dumpster from demolition at the center. A good friend named Peter was with me. It was snowing. In that moment I had a bit of a revelation. I said to him, "We are living in New York City! And we get to work with the coolest kids in the world! Almost no one gets an opportunity like this." I became overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for this opportunity, and for every open door that has led to this. I am in awe that God would allow a person like me to take part in His great purpose in this way. The task that is in front of me and all of us is unimaginable. And God entrusted this small part to me. And for that I cannot be thankful enough. I told Peter that I probably have less physical things than I ever have but I have more to be thankful for than ever. The smallest of the things of God are so much greater than everything we can imagine to accumulate. But you already know that. Or do you, as you seek after and strive for that job to make that money to buy that car, to pay off that house, to get those clothes? Of course you know that to be a fact. But do you know it? So much so that you would give up everything today and then, with nothing left of your own, follow wholeheartedly after everything that is of Christ. Because wait, that is exactly what you as a "christian" are commanded to do. I do not pretend to have arrived, or even come close to this point. But as I seek to discover the things that are of Christ, I realize how far I am from it. But then I am greatly encouraged that I will never on this earth come close to the obedience of everything Christ requires of us. But as I instead strive to diminish my self and flesh until there is nothing left of my own, The Holy Spirit then comes in, and the things that are impossible for me to achieve, become possible only through what the Spirit does in me. Jesus was not joking when He spoke to that rich man. Remember, the man asked "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus went on to answer, "If you want to be perfect..."

Sorry, it has been too long.
-Ryan.