The pilgrim has moved...go figure

But you can find her at this address:

http://jdpilgrim.wordpress.com/

My new place is still in disarray but I'm working on it.

Sufjan

To use the word "amazing" to describe the concert last night does not do Sufjan Stevens justice. Amazing is just a sad, sad little word compared to what I heard and experienced. I would freeze my keister off again in a heartbeat for another chance to listen to him live.

A long road back to remembering the good

I was reading the end of John this morning. Jesus tells Peter that he is going to die for him, but in a way that doesn't conjure up anything desirable or easy, like you know, dying in your sleep. Nothing quick and easy. Poor Peter, Jesus was always telling him the cold hard truth. Then Peter (like most people) points to John and says, "What about him?" And Jesus replies, "What is it to you? Follow Me." Nice Jesus, soften the blow for Peter.

It would be easy for Peter to become bitter, or be distracted with comparing his path to John's path in life. I keep coming back to this passage, and identify how Peter must have felt. In my own life, I think, "why is my path look so different than so many of my friends? Why did you choose this for me Jesus? Are you sure you know what you are doing? There is a disconnect here, I don't understand what You are doing!!!"

- "If I have X, Y, and Z for your friends, but something different for you right now, what is that to you? Follow Me."

My response at times is bitterness, but I find when I keep allowing myself, even a tinge of it, I lose sight of the vision, and I become cynical, and my trust is diminished significantly, in God, in the Church, in people. Better remember what it tastes like... to know that God is good. That He is forever faithful, forever just, forever loving. Because you keep taking in that bitter drink, you will forget what those good things taste like, look like, and it can be a long road back....

Josef Tson

A good friend of mine sent me this link:

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=516

Sermons by a man, Josef Tson, who suffered persecution in Communist Romania. The messages speak about how persecution and martyrdom ultimately prepares the way for the church to spread the gospel.

My first all night stake out for concert tickets

My friend Abby and I were going to go down to the Kennedy Center this morning very early to stand in line for Sufjan Stevens tickets, which were completely free - but only if you were the first 1000 people to be in line. So we were watching the second season of The Office last night, when Abby's sister called us to say she was driving by and saw tents already popping up and curling around the center. OH MY. The threat of not getting there in time was clearly an issue, and what would any two reasonable young women/Sufjan enthusiasts do but go pack up a tent and sleeping bag and camp out!!!!

So...Abby and I got all the basics and drove down to find our place in line. The first guy in line had been there since Friday morning - clearly a die hard Sufjan fan, and a college student who had nothing better to do.

The end of the line was not too bad, and so around 11 pm, we pitched our tent to brave the elements. We spoke of Sufjan and that we needed to stay focus on how great the concert would be. We were serenaded by our next door neighbor, a group of guys with a ukulele, a harmonica and a pretty good sense of rhythm.










Of course I had to go use the bathroom several times throughout the night. The security guard was letting people in several individuals at a time, which was sad considering there were about 20 people in line and my basic needs were not being met and they were INCREDIBLY URGENT. And then people were cutting in line which emboldened many to threaten violence.

So did i mention it was really cold??? This was interesting watching others figure out ways to stay warm - some were running around The Kennedy Center, i saw a few people on a tandem bike. There was an intense game of ultimate frisbee going on. And all at 2 in the morning!!! Abby and I passed the time people watching and telling old camping stories and laughing alot when we tried to stumble out of the tent. It's hard to get out of a tent when you can't feel your legs.









8 45 am - We begin to move towards the Kennedy Center in line while madly stuffing our tent in a bag that was way too small.... but things were looking up!!! People around us who had made the sacrifice to come out here in the frigid cold starting to realize that the sacrifice was about to bear some amazing fruit, like some very amazing tickets... In fact, this guy who finally received his tickets, was jumping up and down and screaming, "This is so worth it - Sufjan you are so worth it!!!"

Wow. Well i have to say i am glad i stuck it out in the winter cold for Sufjan and Abby and really to have the experience. We listened to the Michigan album on the way home and knew it would be even better next Monday live...

Glorious

Yesterday, towards the end of the day, the sky darkened, and from the sky - huge white flakes floated down - my coworkers turned the lights out and watched as everything seemed to slow down and become quiet. There really is a glory to a snowfall - the uniqueness of each flake to how it can be so peaceful and beautiful.

On the way home I worshipped.

Everything Glorious (David Crowder)

The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than it's hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?

My eyes are small but they have seen
The beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
There's light enough to see that

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

From glory to glory
You are glorious
You are glorious
From glory to glory

You are glorious

Denial means wearing t-shirts in 35 degree weather

I am psyching myself up to stand in the cold Saturday morning for concert tickets. The cold and I are not on good terms. In fact, I was hoping against hope that it would make a few appearances this winter and it would just go away.

The cold is mocking me.

Yet, I cling to hope and therefore keep out short sleeved shirts, and walk really fast from building to building.