So I haven't written much... or anything... in a while. Though this is consistent with my half-month frequency, I assure you it's just because I haven't had much to write about.
Fortunately, that changed this week, when I was able to make my first solo venture down to Vancouver for 3 days. For one thing, I have to say that I don't mind driving long distances so long as I'm feeling fairly awake. The drive back I was dozing a little and it wasn't nearly as fun as driving down (this could also be from the return-from-"vacation" feeling you get when you need to return to work).
I got there on Monday night (my brother's place) and began my fun on Tuesday. Deciding to bus around the bustling city so as to save gas and get back into my old feelings of commuterism, I ended up watching a movie at Metrotown followed by climbing at the Hangout, a gym in Richmond (and a great one at that!). Highlighting my day was going to the Point's guys group that evening, reconnecting with the great people who I rarely hear from (or make grand gestures to keep in full contact with myself, to be fully honest). This really was the most in-depth study of the Bible I'd done in at least the last month if not longer, and was welcome relief to my bad habits oft developed over the summer.
Next came Wednesday, when I got my first exposure to Vancouver traffic.... I actually ended up heading North on Cambie for a bit, which may have been the worst idea I had all week... However, after I got over the usual need for a MEC visit, I went to SFU for the UCM Worship and Prayer, which was actually the first worship I'd done with other people in the last 3 weeks. This was sooo amazingly fantastic; I wish there was something like that during the week in Kamloops, but I have yet to find it. Oh! and I found 4 Hawaiian shirts for $40 at Lougheed mall, my current total may be around 80 or so, but I should really do a recount sometime soon.
Anyways, in the evening the second best thing of the whole week (the first being all the time I had in pursuit of God and just general refreshment therein) happened: I saw Julius Caesar at Bard on the Beach. Shannon and I got to use my parents' membership dress rehearsal tickets, and the play was spectacular. We even got free cookies and tea at intermission (Shannon thought the show might be over, as at that point in the play Caesar had actually just died... not really a totally illogical conclusion, except for all the people sticking around).
So while nothing could really top what had already transpired in my week thus far, on my way out of town I went back up to SFU and met up with Heather to see how she's doing and to get in on a "surprise" birthday thing for Jeanne (I use quotation marks because Kelly accidentally e-mailed Jeanne all the info about it, so I would say the only large surprise was perhaps the presence of Lynda and myself). It was fun to see more of the Point people and get to hear what's happening around town in Vancouver Focus, the Point UBC, and other great places God is moving. Sadly, all had to come to an end as I departed yet again to come back to Kamloops...
The main thing I learned through this week (seriously... I seem to be unable to blog unless I have some grand life lesson; it's an illness) is that I'm not doing what I should be to keep my spiritual life alive here in Kamloops. For two weeks, I've been in a drought, starving myself of nearly any contact with other Christians. I have this odd notion that my brothers and sisters in faith are only available on Sundays, when I'm at the sawmill cleaning or sparkwatching. This week, I will have gone to a guy's Bible study, Worship and Prayer, a discipleship class, a fellowship of Baptist ministers, and church here in Kamloops (I get today off, yay!!). Talk about an oasis in a (likely) self-made dessert, as I won't be at church till the end of the summer if I don't find something that happens during the week.
All I know is that God is good; He always provides these things just when I feel most disparaged in my faith. Now I just have to figure out how to be better at reciprocating His faithfulness towards me.... at least I have plenty of time to do so.
