all you need is love.

Love, love, love. Love is all you need.

It's Sunday, and as I was listening to a sermon online while I dusted and folded laundry, there was a knock at my door. Two girls from SPU came in and instead of going to church, they decided to be the church and minister from door to door in the dorms today. What a cool idea, I thought. Not to mention, they brought cookies to send a little love on Valentine's Day. They intentionally asked if there was anything that I needed prayer for. Just a little spark of encouragement and prayer lifted me up and made me realize even more what an amazing place SPU is. It's the small things that count.

This is the first Valentine's Day not being at home. Not a huge deal, but the small things like being with the family or having chocolates and treats on the breakfast table when I wake up or even remembering Valentine's Day in elementary school when everyone got valentines. Those were the days.

"It's all about love. We're either in love, dreaming about love, recovering from it, wishing for it, or reflecting on it." -- Michael Buble

The Steam is Rising

The hardest part of the run is getting out the door. But it makes it a lot easier when I look out my window and see that the sun is shining and it doesn't look at all like winter. This has been a recurring weather pattern recently and I absolutely love it.

My 30.29 minute run this afternoon to Queen Anne rocked. I am reminded that once I do take enough steps to get me out the door, I realize that running can be such a nice get away from the world. It's time to escape into what outside has to offer and I can let my mind go free. Additionally, taking a short detour from the Queen Anne loop, I am privileged to see Seattle from the famous Kerry Park. I am caught off guard every time I see the Space Needle and I am reminded that I live in Seattle now...I sometimes forget. What an awesome city.



After descending down the hill that I had earlier climbed, I finished strong with a stride to the back door of Ashton. The easiest part of the run is stretching and cooling down. I proceeded to the floor balcony to enjoy the last hour or so of daylight. From the balcony of Ashton, I'm thankful for the view of the entire campus and the canal just beyond that. I am reminded once again that I live in a wonderful city. Last week, as I took my specs off for the night, I looked out my window from my bed to see the city lights. Despite the fact that I couldn't see them all that clearly because I'm blind without my glasses, I could still sit there and smile and nuzzle under my sheets in awe of how cool the lights that shine at night are.

Out on the balcony, I removed my shoes as I sat down in a chair. I knew I wouldn't stay out too long because the sun had already descended. I crossed my legs and noticed steam coming from my feet. The warmth that was enclosed in my shoes was being released. The steam I saw reminded me of a way that mist sits in the air, the way that fog stays stagnant. Steam that comes from things like chimneys and boiling pots of water ready to cook pasta. I paralleled this to perhaps what the Holy Spirit looks like and does in one's life.

You can see the Holy Spirit in someone by the way that they act and the way they love people. Others who haven't felt the Holy Spirit move in their lives can see the steam radiating from those who have felt the Holy Spirit move. Steam and warmth can easily be felt by others; it is easily spread - so is the love of Christ. It is easy to see those who live their life for the Lord and those who don't. I strive to let the steam rise out of my words, actions, and heart.