Meaningless to Meaningful

Ecclesiastes 9: 7-10
7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, [c] where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

This may sound depressing, such is the book of Ecc. I guess. It's generally one of those books in the Bible that I like to read when I am feeling bummed about life or circumstance and I can just chill with the thoughts and wisdom of someone who felt the same way as me, only like, 3000 years ago (or whenever it was originally written) However, I include it now not because I am bummed about life and what's up right now, but rather because I had an amazing weekend. Truly.

It was one of those weekends (or moments) that you didn't really have anything exciting or amazing planned, but as the hours unfolded themselves into one another, each was filled with quiet joy, blessing, friends, laughter, food and wine and just the simple joys of truly enjoying the moment you've been given under the sun.

Now, I didn't bring my camera, (which i wish I had, but I guess you'll have to use your imagination for this one). But on Saturday (after a chilled day of cleaning my little home and getting caught up on work) we went to spend the evening with Steve (Jay's work friend) who was house/dog sitting quite close to our house.

The house was something else, right on the edge of a hilltop, the backyard literally dropped hundreds of feet into a valley, which at the bottom, was Jay's work and some other businesses and El Camino Real (which is one of the main roads here -- picture it like one of the houses that you see perched at the edge of the Edmonton River Valley) The backyard had an outdoor grill (on which we BBQ'd chicken and zucchini and garlic) and a pool and jacuzzi (which we swam and talked in for literally the whole night) There were lots of arid type plants and cactus at the back and palm trees waving their frawns in the night air. We listened to music (the same CD at least like 5 times on repeat) and shared wine and talked about music and what life was and we even saw a white bat ... yep, I'm pretty sure, I'm not kidding.

But the whole time I was there, I literally had moments where I would stare up into the night sky, which was framed with palm leaves and up above the wisps of white disorganized clouds drifting by, the California stars twinkling overhead, and thought "I am completely happy right now" Literally, joyful, and thankful, and truly feeling blessed to be there, in the warm night looking at stars and palm trees and the valleys' and little lights of other houses beyond.

It almost felt a bit timeless, we didn't pay attention to it, and it seemed to leave us alone for awhile.

Back to reality, sort of: today I went to the beach and soaked in the sunshine and read the Bible and just pondered what it really should look like to truly worship God. And not like, singing worship, but the real deal of giving yourself everyday to Him. I read Isaiah 58 and just thought about it, and came to the conclusion that I want to be "well-watered" by God (if you know what I mean) So, this coming week, it will be my goal to live out these words, the best I can ... and I know I'll probably fail quite a bit, but I want to bring Joy to my heavenly father too, and so, I'll try.

Isaiah 58

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness [a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

May you all find the contentment and joy in the little things this week =)

Till Next Blog.
a.