Toes are sinking in as the ocean digs the sand

Salty lips sprayed 

That's as close as I might get

Waves closing in, slapping down, rolling on

Seems I'm the one who's trapped when freedom's riding barrels

Knowing when to switch foot

Strength found in unlikely stances when you risk a change

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

As he spoke about what this passage says about who Jesus is and who we are, I was struck by a thought regarding Jesus as the cornerstone. We often think of this in terms of making Jesus the cornerstone of our lives, so that he is the sure, strong, perfect foundation for all of the rest of what we build with our days. The passage, though, speaks of God setting the cornerstone, and then goes on to say we are stones too, "being built into a spiritual house." I think both readings are accurate, but I can't help but think that the image of Christ as the cornerstone set by God and we as the living stones set upon that cornerstone is the more powerful image. We ourselves are being built into the church. And there are so many ways that the Bible tells us of this truth: through the grafting of branches, through adoption, as the body of Christ. In all of these life-pictures, we get a glimpse of our reality. 

We are his: in him, rooted, set on the foundation, and beloved. Because of who Jesus is, we are as he is. Precious. Chosen. 

May I not be one to stumble and fall. And when I do fall, Lord, pick me up and set me aright. 

When the whole world is broken,
How can we keep hoping
For that day when all's made new?
And yet, we do...

This morning we were about to leave for church, but my keys were not where (I thought) I had left them. I looked around, including in the shoes by the front door, where they have been known to hide. Nope. No keys. 

Exasperated, I looked around the house, but I felt so tired that I didn't tear things apart to find them. I did check all the doors, but the keys weren't there. 

Christian asked if we could do a Bible lesson since we weren't going to be at church. He printed a couple of coloring pages for Eliana to color (there was a copy of each one for him too), and has a plan to give her a lesson after they are done coloring. He's been very sweet with her this morning. Since they have very similar personalitites, they can get on each other's nerves as easily as they can spend hours working on something together. 

So. We are spending a quiet morning at home. I don't know if I am anxious about all of the things related to the upcoming trip, all that we have to take care of, and how I have to have the kids packed for their various destinations. There are errands to run, and this is, of course, the year that I decided to finally volunteer to help with VBS at our church, which is this week. 

Just typing about it has my heart pounding again. I need to breathe, calm down, and get one thing done at a time. Now I'm going to make a couple of lists. 

jk

ooooooooooooost

p

qwert

y

uiop

I did get up though. The thought of depression winning made me mad, so I guess that's one victory for me. I don't feel particularly victorious (although I even took a shower, which is extra ambitious) because the rest of the day feels like a wash.

Blah.

Anyway, at dinner the kids and I laughed about as hard as we have in a while, so that was fun. They were being particularly silly, and Christian is quite a witty character, so the combination of each one's antics made for a hilarious dinner, as well as a louder dinner than it should have been. At the end of the day, a lot of days, I try to feel good about the fact that they each went to bed relatively happy, in spite of all the things I do wrong, and in spite of the disaster of a house they live in. Believe me when I say that I want things to change, but at the same time, I am grateful that they are resilient. 

I do not, however, want that to become my excuse not to change. Just for the record.