*Stained Glass Masquerade*

This song has been really challenging to me recently. Challenging me to not only be one who is accepting of others and their pain and their struggles, to be someone who others can be open with, but also to be open with others, to take the risk of being accepted as I truly am--which often isn't the person that everyone imagines me to be...

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles that hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles that hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles that hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

~"Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns~

I'm sorry for those of you who have been disappointed by my lack of blogging over the summer months. Things have been busy and I've been overwhelmed at all I could tell you about, but didn't want to write you a novel that would never be read anyway. I'll try and post a few pictures soon for you from various trips. I got to go to Ireland May 22-June 1 and was enthralled by the beauty of God's creation... both in nature and culture. I love that our God is a God of creativity, amen? I spent a week serving at Camp Charis as a counselor, but for security purposes I don't have any pictures that I'm able to post from that. We took a day trip to go tubing down the Ichetucknee River, where Kenley suffered a stabbing (it wasn't fatal, not to worry) by a protruding tree branch and saved me from suffering the same. My family traveled to Texas and Oklahoma to visit friends and family, especially to celebrate Willa Mae and L.D.'s 50th anniversary! We love you guys :o). We were charmed by the wit of my nephew, who onlyadorablere adoreable by the day, and we were warmed by the sweet baby girls that were recently added to our family. I've been busy when I've actually been home between various babysitting jobs, working at a Real Estate office, church activities, dating a special guy, and hanging out with treasured friends and family. My car was in the shop this week and my parents graciously doled out some major dollars for some repairs... and it still isn't fixed and has to go back to the shop :o(. I still haven't gone to the beach all summer, and I live in Florida... I'm seeking to reconcile this problem soon. God is challenging me to truly consider how big He is, realize I'll never even be able to remotely comprehend it, and concede that He can control my life a lot better than I can. He is stretching me to depend on Him and to be vulnerable enough to depend on others. He's teaching me to love... and it's something I know I will never stop learning. Praise the Lord I'm being taught by LOVE Himself. Well, I guess that catches you up a smidge on what's been going on with me. *I love you all*

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,

because love covers a multitude of sins." ~1 Peter 4:8