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Punching the Clock

A lot can happen in a month. Things like moving into a new beautiful house. Things like getting my hair cut shorter than I've ever had it before. Things like bringing up that awesomely weighty "M" word.

Yeah. Things like that.

A lot has changed in a month, my address (again) for example, but on the other hand you'd really have to look closely to see what changes are taking place. They're subtle - so subtle that I find myself relying on comparison and restrospect to see the place I'm at now. I've become more mature, more responsible. But on the flip side of that coin I'm more vulnerable, and sillier with my roommates. Dave and I are having more conversations that are difficult or emotional. But then again I've never been more grateful than now for our relationship and its balance. I've been falling out of the Tree of Life Bible class homework habits and am starting to fall in love with God's written word. I've never before woken up so many mornings in a row with my stress-spurred hives spotting my legs, but neither have I ever before felt so happy and full of delightful growing pains.

There are just some moments you run into that you have to stop for. Like two weeks ago, as spritely and socialable Dana wandered off to chatter happily to other people in my homechurch, her boyfriend Zach approached, his dark features and thick build her physical opposite in every way. After Dana and I had started studying together she began witnessing to him and ended up leading him to Christ a couple of months ago, to the delight of us both. He's not one for fraternizing with crowds, but is more quiet and thoughtful and prefers one on one interaction. Squatting next to me on the step a couple of weeks ago, he looked at me and said simply
"Thanks."
"For what, Zach?"
"For my faith."
With that, he nodded and then walked away to light a cigarette. I felt like the oxygen had all been squeezed from my body in an invisible bone-crushing hug. I couldn't draw breath - I had to stop for the moment. The humility and beauty I felt were indescribable. No one else heard. No one else saw. But that's one of those things that can happen in a month's time.

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